2015 - April Sacred Lessons

8/9/2019 2015 - April Sacred Lessons

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G r e e k O r t h o d o x P a t r i a r c h a t e o f A l e x a n d r i a & A l l A f r i c aA r c h d i o c e s e o f G o o d H o p e

All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, nowand Forever, and unto the Ages of Ages. AmenRemembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Mary,Theotokos yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves andone another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

4 April 2015

Saturday of the Raising of St Lazros Also the Feast of St Joseph the Hymnographer of Sicily & Peloponnesos – St

George of Mount Maleon Monastery, Peloponnesos – St Joseph the Much

Ailing, of Kiev Far Caves Monastery – St Zosimas of Verbozomsk, Founder of the

Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos Monastery, Lake Vorbozoma – St

Zosimas of Palestine, (who had met St Mary of Egypt who had told him her

amazing Life of Repentance) – St Perbutha the Virgin Martyr, her sister and her

servants, Holy Martyrs of Persia – St Nicetas of Pojani & Serres, & Mount Athos – St Isidore of Seville – St Theonas of

Thessalonika – St George Mtsire of Georgia

F E S T A L A P O L Y T I K I O N – S T L A Z A R O S S A T U R D A Y – T O N E 1

T in kinin anastasin pro tou Sou Pathous Pistoumenos, ek

nekron igiras ton Lazaron, Hriste O Theos. Othen ke

imis os i Pedes, ta tis Nikis symbola ferontes, Si to Nikititou Thanatou voomen. Osanna en tis Ipsistis,evlogimenos O erhomenos, en Onomati Kyrie.

To confirm the General Resurrection before Thy Passion,

Thou Resurrected Lazaros from the dead, O Christ our

God. Therefore, imitating the children, carrying thesymbols of Victory, we cry out to Thee the Victor overDeath: “Hosanna in the Highest! Blessed art Thou, theOne Who comes in the Name of the Lord.”

F E S T A L K O N T A K I O N – S T L A Z A R O S S A T U R D A Y – T O N E 2

I panton Hara, Hristos i Alithia, to Fos i Zoi, tou Kosmou i

Anastasis, tis en Gi perfanerote, ti Aftou Agathotiti, kegegone typos tis Anastaseos, tis pasi parehon Thianafesin.

The Joy of all mankind, the Truth Who is Christ our God,

the Light and the Life, the Resurrection of the world,has Appeared unto those on Earth, in that He is

benevolent, becoming the Type of Resurrection, andgranting Divine Remission unto all.

I N S T E A D O F T H E T R I S A G I O N H Y M N “ A G I O S O T H E O S . . . ”

O si is Hriston Evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe. Allilouia! (3)

D oxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati, ke nin ke ai ke is

tous Eonas ton eonon.A min

H riston enedisasthe. Allilouia!

D ynamis !

D ynamis!

O si is Hriston Evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe. Allilouia !

As many of you as were Baptised into Christ have puton Christ. Alleluia! (3)

G lory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy

Spirit, now and forever, and to the Ages of ages.A men

Have put on Christ. Alleluia!

Dynamis!

Dynamis!

As many of you as were Baptised into Christ have puton Christ. Alleluia!

P R O K E I M E N O N – P S A L M 2 6 / 2 6 – T O N E 3

K yrios Fotismos mou ke Sotir mou. Tina fovithisome?

K yrio iperspistis tis Zois mou. Apo tinao diliaso?

The Lord is my Light and my Saviour. Whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the Defender of my Life. Whom shall I dread?

T H E E P I S T L E O F S T P A U L T O T H E H E B R E W S 1 2 : 2 8 - 1 3 : 8B R O T H E R L Y L O V E & V I R T U O U S L I F E

Adelphi: Basilian asalefton paralmbanontes ehomen Harin -

di’ is latrevomen evarestos to Theo meta Aidous keEvlavias, ke gar O Theos imon Pir Katanaliskon.

I Philadelphia meneto - tis filoxenias mi epilanthanesthe, diataftis gar elathon tines xenisantes Angelous.

Mimniskesthe ton desmion os sindedemeni, ton katihoumenonos ke afti ontes en somati.

Timios O Gamos en pasi ke i kiti amiantos, pornous de kemihous krini O Theos.

Afilargiros O tropos, arkoumeni tis parousin. Aftos gar iriken:“Ou mi se ano oud’ ou mi se egkatalipo.”

Oste tharrountas imas legin: “Kyrios emi voithos, ke ou

fovithisome. Ti piisi mi anthropos?”Mnimonevete ton igoumenon imon - itines elalisan imin ton

Logon tou Theou.On anatheorountes tin ekvasin tis anastrofis mimisthe tin

Pistin.Iisous Hristo hthes ke simeron O aftos ke is tous eonas.

Brethren: Let us be grateful for receiving a Kingdom

that cannot be shaken - thus let us offer to Godacceptable worship, with Reverence and Awe, forour God is a Consuming Fire.

Let Brotherly Love continue - do not neglect to showhospitality to strangers, for thereby some haveunknowingly hosted Angels.

Remember those who are in prison, as though in prisonwith them, and those who are ill-treated - since youalso are in the body.

Let Marriage be held in honour among all, and let theMarriage Bed be undefiled, for God will Judge theimmoral and adulterous.

Keep your Life free from love of money, and be contentwith what you have, for He has said: “I will never fail

you, nor forsake you..”Hence, we can confidently say: “The Lord is my Helper.

I will not be afraid. What can mankind do to me?”Remember your Leaders – those who spoke to you the

Word of God.Consider the outcome of their Life, and imitate their

Faith.Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and

forever


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ONLY THOSE THINGS THAT ARE CREATED CAN BE SHAKEN AND

EVEN DESTROYED – THE TEMPORAL, IMPERMANENT AND

IMPERFECT.

THE FINAL CONSUMMATION OF THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD IS

UNSHAKABLE AND INDESTRUCTIBLE AND ENDURES FOREVER – FOR

ALL ETERNITY AND EVERYTHING OF ETERNITY IS E VERLASTING,

UNCHANGEABLE AND IMPERISHABLE.

That is why we must prepare ourselves throughout this

lifetime to BECOME WORTHY SPIRITUAL CITIZENS OF GOD’S

ETERNAL KINGDOM OF LOVE, PEACE AND JOY – BY MEANS OF

ALL THE SPIRITUAL TOOLS WITH WHICH CHRIST OUR LORD AND

S AVIOUR HAS PROVIDED US – ALL HIS DIVINE COMMANDMENTS

AND TEACHINGS. ETERNAL LIFE IS CONTINUOUS EUCHARISTIC (THANKSGIVING)

DIVINE LITURGY.

“Grace ” is a reference to OUR SINCERE AND PROFOUND

GRATITUDE THAT COMPELS US TO SERVE GOD AND TO

WORSHIP HIM IN AN ACCEPTABLE MANNER, with proper

“Reverence and Godly Fear .”

(D IVINE G RACE THAT ENABLES US TO DO THE W ILL OF G OD WITH HUMBLE

O BEDIENCE IS BESTOWED ON US BY G OD THE H OLY S PIRIT . mp )

PRACTICAL BROTHERLY LOVE IS TO BE SHOWN TOWARDS ALL

FELLOW CHRISTIANS AND DISCIPLES OF CHRIST – and

ESPECIALLY TOWARDS THE LOWLY, THE POWERLESS, AND ALL

VICTIMS OF CRUELTY AND INJUSTICE.

“Strangers ” are TRAVELLERS ( VISITORS) IN NEED OF CHRISTIAN

HOSPITALITY.

THE HOSPITALITY OF A BRAHAM THE ANCIENT P ATRIARCH IS A GOOD

EXAMPLE TO US: he never ate a meal unless he had

others with whom to share it.

The day came when he hosted three very special Visitors – the Holy

Trinity – at the Oaks of Mamre, where they left their three staffs of

cypress, cedar and pine imbedded in the earth, which grew into a

most unique Tree. (GENESIS 18 : 1 – 8 & 19: 1 – 3)

When King Solomon was building his first great Temple in Jerusalem

centuries later, the Trinity Tree was cut down but the wood was never

used and merely thrown aside, until the Crucifixion of Christ when He

was forced to carry the heavy cross-bar (not the whole cross) as part

of His public humiliation and punishment, before being nailed at the

wrists to it.The cross-bar was then fastened to the upright pole which was secured in

a hole in the rock on Golgotha – which still exists to this day. MP

St Paul urged us to apply all the Divine Commandments

and Teachings of Christ our Lord and Saviour, to our

daily life, treating others with compassion, kindness

and respect, just as we would like to be treated

ourselves.

Furthermore, we must always remember that our Lord

Jesus Christ and His Divine Truth never change andare always applicable to this Preparatory Period

before Eternity.

T H E H O L Y G O S P E L A C C O R D I N G T O S T J O H N 1 1 : 1 – 4 5OU R LORD JESUS CHR I S T I S THE RESURRECT ION AND THE L I F E

T o kero ekino, in tis asthenon Lazaros apo Vithanias, ek tiskomis Marias ke Marthas tis adelphis aftis.

I n de Maria mi alipsasa ton Kyrion myro ke ekmaxasa tousPodas Aftou tes thrixin aftis, is O adelphos, Lazaros,istheni.

A pestilan oun e adelfe pros afton legouse: “Kyrie, ide onFilis asthenia.”

A kousas de O Iisou ipen: “Afti i asthenia ouk esti prosThanaton, all’ iper tis Doxis tou Theou, ina DoxasthiO Iios tou Theou di’ aftis.”

I gapa de O Iisous tin Marthan ke tin adelphin aftis ke tonLazaron. Os oun ikousen oti asthenia, tote men eminenen O in topo dio imeras.

E pita meta touto legit is Mathites: “Agomen is tin Ioudean

palin.” L egousin afto i Mathite: “Ravvi, nin exitoun Se lithase i

Ioudei, ke palin ipagis eki?”A pekrifi Iisous: “Ouhi dodeka isin ore tis imeras? Ean tis

peripati en ti imera, ou proskopti, oti to fos toukosmou toutou vlepi. Ean de tis peripati en ti nikti,proskopti, oti to Fos ouk estin en afto.”

T afta ipe, ke meta touto legi aftis: “Lazaros O Filos Imonkekimite. All’ porevome ina exipniso afton.”

I pon oun i Mathite Aftou: “Kyrie, i kekimite, sothisete.”I riki de O Iisou peri tou Thanatou Aftou, ekini de edoxan oti

peri tis kimiseos tou ipnou legi.T ote oun ipen aftis O Iisous parrisia: “Lazaros apethane.

Ke hero di imas, ina Pistevsite, oti ouk imin eki: All’

agomen pros afton.”I pen oun Thomas O legomenos ‘Didimos’ tis simmathites:

“Agomen ke imis ina apothanomen met’ Aftou.”E lthon oun O Iisou evren afton tessaras imeras idi ehonta

en to mnimio.I n de i Vithania engis ton Ierosolimon os apo stadion

dekapente.K e polli ek ton Ioudeon elilithisan pros tas peri Marthan ke

Maria ina paramithisonte aftas peri tou adelphou afton.

I oun Martha os ikousen oti O Iisou erhete, ipintisen afto.Maria de en to iko ekathezeto.

I pen oun i Martha pros ton Iisoun: “Kyrie, i is ode, Oadelphos mou ouk en etethnike. Alla ke nin ida oti osaan etisi ton Theon, dosi Si O Theos.”

L egi afti O Iisous: “Anastisete O adelphos sou.”L egi afto Martha: “Ida oti Anastisete en ti Anastasi en ti

Eshati Imera.”I pen afti O Iisous: “Ego Imi i Anastasis ke Zoi. O Pistevon

is Eme, kan apothani, Zisete. Ke pas O Zon kePistevon is Eme ou mi apothani is ton eona. Pistevistouto?”

At that time, a certain man was sick: Lazaros of Bethany,the town of Mary and her sister, Martha.

It was that Mary who had anointed our Lord with fragrantoil and wiped His Feet with her hair, whose brother,Lazaros, was sick.

Therefore, the sisters sent a message to Jesus, saying:“Lord, behold: he whom Thou Love is sick .”

When Jesus heard that, He said: “This sickness is not untoDeath, but for the Glory of God so that the Son ofGod may be Glorified through it.”

Now Jesus Loved Martha and her sister, and Lazaros, sowhen He heard that Lazaros was sick, He stayed twomore days in the place where He was.

Then after this, He said to His Disciples: “Let us go to

Judea again.”The Disciples said to Him: “Rabbi, lately the Hebrews

sought to stone Thee, and art Thou going there again?” Jesus answered: “Are there not twelve hours in the day?

If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble,because he sees the light of this world. But if onewalks in the night, he stumbles, because the Light isnot in him.”

These things He said, and after that He said to them: “Ourfriend, Lazaros, sleeps, but I go so that I may wakehim up.”

His Disciples said: “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get well.” However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that

He spoke of taking rest in sleep.So Jesus told them plainly: “Lazaros is dead. And I Am

glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you

may believe. Nevertheless, let us go to him.” Thomas, who was called ‘the Twin,’ said to his fellow

Disciples: “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”So when Jesus went, He found that Lazaros had already

been in the tomb for four days.Bethany was near Jerusalem - about two miles away.

And many of the Hebrews had joined the women aroundMartha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their

brother.As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went

to meet Him, but Mary sat in the house.Martha said to Jesus: “Lord, if Thou had been here, my

brother would not have died. But even now, I know thatwhatever Thou ask of God, God will grant Thee.”

Jesus said to her: “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to Him: “I know that he will Rise again in the

Resurrection at the Last Day.” Jesus said to her: “I Am the Resurrection and the Life:

he who believes in me, although he may die, he shallLive. And whoever lives and believes in Me, shallnever die. Do you believe this?”


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L egi afto: “Ne, Kyrie, ego pepistevka oti Si i O Hristos - OIios tou Theou O is ton kosmon erhomenos.”

K e tafta ipousa apilthe ke efonise Marian tin adelphin aftislathra ipousa: “O Didaskalos paresti ke foni se.”

E kini os ikousen, egirete tahi ke erhete pros Afton.

O upo de elilithi O Iisous is tin komin, all’ n en to topo opouipintisen afto i Martha.

I oun Ioudei i ontes met’ aftis en ti ikia ke paramithoumeniaftin, idontes tin marian oti taheos anesti ke exilthen,ikolouthisan afti, legontes: “ oti ipagi is to mnimion ina

klafsi eki.”I oun Maria os ilthen opou in Iisous, idousa afton epesen

Aftou is tous Podas legousa Afto: “Kyrie, i is ode, ouk anapethane mou O adelphos.”

I isou oun os iden aftin kleousan ke tous sinelthontas aftiIoudeous kleontas, enevrimisato to pnevmati keetaraxen eafton.

K e ipe: “ Pou tethikate afton?” L egousin afto: “Kyrie, erhou ke ide.”E dakrisen O Isous.E legon oun i Ioudei: “Ide pos efili Afton!”T ines de ex afton ipon: “Ouk edinato outos, O anixas tous

ofthalmous tou tiflou, piise ina ke outos mi apothani?”I isous oun, palin emvrimomenos en eafto, erhete is to

mnimion. In de spileon, ke lithos epekito ep afto.L egi O Iisou:. “ Arate ton lithon.”

L egi afto i Adelphi tou tethnikotos Martha: “Kyrie, idi ozi.Tetarteos gar est!”

L egi afti O Iisou: “Ouk ipon Si oti ean Pistevsis, opsi tinDoxan tou Theou?”

I ran oun ton lithon ou in O tethnikos kimonos.

O de Iisous ire tous ofthalmous ano ke ipe: “Pater,efharisto Si oti ikousas Mou. Ego de idin oti pantotemou akouis. Alla dia ton ohlon to periestota ipon,ina Pistevsosin oti Si Me apestilas.”

K e tafta ipon foni megali ekravase: “ Lazare! Devro exo! “

K e exilthen O tethnikos dedemenos tous podas ke tas hiraskiries ke i opsis aftou soudario periededeto.

L egi aftis O Iisous: “Lisate afton ke afete ipagin.”P olli oun ek ton Ioudeon, i elthontes pros tin Marian ke

theasameni a epiisen O Iisous, epistevsan is Afton.

She said to Him: “Yes, Lord, I believe that Thou art theChrist – the Son of God Who is to come into the world.”

And having said these things, Martha went her way, andsecretly called Mary, her sister, saying: “The Teacherhas come and is calling for you.”

As soon as Mary heard that, she quickly arose and went toHim.

Jesus had not yet gone into the town, but was in the placewhere Martha had met Him.

When the Judeans, who were with her in the house,comforting her, saw that Mary had quickly arisen andgone out, they followed her, saying: “She is going to the

tomb to weep there.”When Mary arrived where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell

down at His Feet, saying to Him: “O Lord, if Thou hadbeen here, my brother would not have died.”

Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Judeanswho had come with her, weeping, He groaned in thespirit and was troubled.

And He said: “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him: “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept.The Judeans said; “See how He Loved him!” Some of them said: “Could not this Man Who opened the

eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?” Jesus, again groaning within Himself, went to the tomb,

which was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said: “Take away the stone.”

Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him:“Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has beendead four days!”

Jesus said to her: “Did I not say to you that if you wouldbelieve you would see the Glory of God?”

They then took away the stone from the cave where thedead man was lying.

Jesus lifted up His Eyes and said: “O Father, I thank Theethat Thou hast heard Me. I know that Thou alwayshears Me, but because of the people who arestanding by, I say this, so that they may believe thatThou sent Me.”

And when Jesus had said these things, He cried with aloud Voice: “Lazaros! Come forth!”

And he who had died came out, bound hand and foot withgrave-cloths, and his face was wrapped with a cloth.

Jesus said to them: “Loosen him, and let him go.”Many of the Judeans who had gone to Mary, and had seen

the things that Jesus did, believed in Him...

S T L A Z A R O S T H E F R I E N D O F C H R I S T A S A M O D E L F O R O U R L I F E P R O T O P R E S B Y T E R G E O R G E P A P A V A R N A V A S

St Lazaros and his pious sisters, St Mary and St Marthalived in Bethany, which was a short distance from thegreat Holy City, Jerusalem.

When St Lazaros became fatally ill, his sisters had sent anurgent message to their Beloved Friend, our Lord andSaviour, Jesus Christ, Whom they knew could restorehim to complete health.

However, St Lazaros passed away and was entombed forfour days before our Lord Jesus arrived in Bethany.

He tried to comfort them in their grief by assuring them

that St Lazaros would arise from the dead – as He hadpreviously said to His Apostles when they received thenews of St Lazaros’ serious condition: “This sickness isnot unto Death, but for the Glory of God so that theSon of God may be Glorified through it.”

However, St Martha, not fully understanding the enormityof what Christ told her, replied: “I know that he willRise again in the Resurrection at the Last Day.”

Once again our Lord tried to make her understand, bytelling her: “I Am the Resurrection and the Life: hewho believes in me, although he may die, he shallLive. And whoever lives and believes in Me, shallnever die...”

As we know, our Lord was led to the tomb of St Lazaroswhere He called him back to life to the great Joy of hisgrieving sisters and family, and to the utter amazement

and shock of the Judean witnesses.St Epiphanios, Bishop of Constance, Cyprus, believed that

St Lazaros of Bethany was thirty years old when he diedand was restored to life by our Lord Jesus, and he livedfor another thirty years after his first Resurrection.

Wanting to flee the hatred of the self-righteous Scribes andPharisees who were determined to kill him, St Lazarosfled to Kition (Larnaca) Cyprus in 33.

St Paul and St Barnabas met St Lazaros when they travelledfrom Salamis, Paphos, and ordained him Bishop ofKition, which he had founded.

For eighteen consecutive years St Lazaros led his Holy Flockwith Love and Wisdom before he Reposed in Peace in63.

The Faithful Christians of his Holy Diocese placed his bodyin a sarcophagus made of carved marble, on which theyinscribed in Hebrew the words: “Lazaros of the FourDays, and Friend of Christ.”

A beautiful church was constructed over his burial site,which was eventually renovated in 1750.The Translation of the Holy Relics of St Lazaros from

Cyprus to Constantinople took place on 17 October 890 by order of Emperor Leo VI, “the Wise,” who alsocomposed the Idiomela Hymns of Vespers in honour ofSt Lazaros of Bethany.

Having witnessed the horrific suffering and agony ofunrepentant souls in Hades, St Lazaros never smiled orlaughed again, except on one occasion when he sawsomeone stealing a clay pot.

He smiled at the absurdity of the situation, commenting:“One (piece of) clay steals another (piece of) clay !”

The Life and Deeds of St Lazaros grant us the opportunityto highlight the following Truth:

Christ came into the world to abolish the work of the devil,

to Judge sin “in His Flesh,” and to conquer Death.Thus, by His Incarnation, Passion, Crucifixion and

Resurrection, our Lord Jesus Christ Redeemed mankindfrom the dominion of the evil one, sin and Death, andgranted us the opportunity to conquer and overcomeDeath in the limits of our personal life, and toexperience Eternity in this present life.


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Furthermore, by Christ raising St Lazaros who wasentombed for four days, our Lord showed us that Hehas dominion over both Life and Death, and thateverything that He says and teaches us, He puts inpractise.

For example: Our Lord Jesus spoke of the CommonResurrection of the Dead at His Reappearance (Second

Coming) and He verified that Divine Truth by means ofthe (temporary) Resurrection of St Lazaros, (who eventually

Reposed, like all of us must do).

“Giving us before Thy Passion an assurance of the GeneralResurrection, Thou hast Raised Lazaros from the dead,

O Christ our God.”In addition, our Lord Jesus proved His Divine Power over

Life and Death when He brought back to life both thedaughter of Jairus, the Ruler of the Synagogue, and theson of the Widow of Nain.

After the Glorious Resurrection of Christ, Death ceases being fearful to us, yet we are now fearful to Death aseven infants mock Death.

The Martyrologies record how small children such as StTarcisios, or infants in the embrace of their mothers,such as St Kyrikos, and even revered Elders who wereover a hundred year old, such as St Charalambos (113years old), who confessed with courage and boldnesstheir Faith in Christ, and walked fearlessly to theirMartyrdom as if going to a festival.

They endured torture calmly and peacefully, even praying

for their tormentors and the entire world.For this exact reason, the death of a Saint is not an occasion

for mourning and tears, but of celebration.

St Basil the Great believed that the Faithful do not weepover the death of Saints, as in the Old Covenant, wherethe death of Saints was honoured with beating of the

breast and tears: “Joseph wept bitterly for Jacob when hedied. The Jews mourned much over the death of Moses,and with many tears they honoured Samuel.

“Now we dance at the death of Saints, because, after theCross of our Lord, the sad nature of things has beenchanged.

“The death of Saints are not followed by lamentations, butwith Divine Dances around their graves, because thedeath of the righteous is sleep.

“Better yet, it is a Journey towards a better Life.”After death, people are reunited with their beloved familyand friends, as long as they are alike in their Way ofLife.

St Basil the Great wrote a comforting letter to a friendwhose child had prematurely died: “... it is Beneficial forus to venerate the Philanthropy of God for all things...You are not deprived of a child, but you have him to theProvider; his life did not disappear, but was changed forthe better. The Earth did not hide your loved one, but hewas received in Heaven. Let us wait a little while and wewill meet again with those for whom we yearn...

“Only let us Hope that we are alike in Virtue to his Purity, sothat with a clear ethos we will achieve the same Rest asthe Infants in Christ.”

“E KKL E S I A S T I K I P A R E MV AS I ” – M AR C H 2014- T R A N S L A T E D B YJ O H N

S AN I D OP O U L O S .

I N S P I R E D , E T E R N A L W I S D O M O F O U R H O L Y C H U R C H F A T H E R S

O U R H O L Y D E S E R T F A T H E R S

The abstinent withdraws from gluttony, the uncovetous from covetousness, the

silent from wordiness, the pure from attachment to sensory pleasures, the

chaste from fornication, he who is content with what he has from love of

money, the meek from agitation (anger), the humble from vanity, the

obedient from objection, he who is honest with himself from hypocrisy.

Equally, he who prays withdraws from despair, the willing pauper from

acquisitiveness, he who professes his faith from denying it, the martyr from

idolatry - so you see that each Virtue , performed even unto death, is nothing

but withdrawal from sin; and withdrawal from sin is a natural action, not an

action that could be rewarded by the Kingdom.

S T . I S A A C T H E S Y R I A N

Just as the sun's rays are sometimes hidden from the earth by thick cloud, so for a

while a person may be deprived of Spiritual Comfort and of Grace's Brightness.

This is caused by the cloud of the passions.

Then, all of a sudden, without that person being aware, it is all given back.

Just as the surface of the earth rejoices at the rays of the sun when they break through the clouds, so the words of

Prayer are able to break through to drive the thick cloud of the passions away from the soul.

O UR E A R L Y C H UR CH F A T H E R S

Faith is the beginning of Love; the end of Love is

Knowledge of God.

Man's Patience gives birth to Hope; Good Hope will

Glorify him.

He who keeps his flesh in strict subjection will reach

Passionlessness. He who feeds it will suffer from it. Solitude with Love Purifies the heart. Withdrawal from

others with anger agitates the heart.

It is better to be among thousands with Love, than to

hide alone in caves with hatred.

He dishonours God who transgresses His Law. But he

who obeys It Glorifies his Creator

Where sin enters, there too enters ignorance; but the

hearts of the Righteous are filled with Knowledge.

Better Poverty with Knowledge than riches with

ignorance.

The highest adornment of the head is the crown; the

highest adornment of the heart is Knowledge of

God.

He who prays often will escape temptation; but

thoughts will trouble the heart of the careless.

If the spirit of despondency attacks you, do not leave

your cell, and do not turn aside in time of

discontent. For as silver is purified (by friction), so

will your heart be made bright if you stand firm.

The spirit of despondency takes away tears, and the

spirit of discontent stifles Prayer. Love is preceded by Passionlessness; Knowledge is

preceded by Love.

Honour God and you will know the Incorporeal; serve

Him and He will show you the Understanding of

the Ages.

The Body of Christ is active Virtues; he who tastes them

will be free from passions.

The Blood of Christ is Discrimination of Actions; he who

drinks It will be Illumined.

The Bosom of the Lord is Knowledge of God; he who

rests Therein will be a Theologian.

When he who is filled with Knowledge and he who

practices Good meet one another, the Lord is

between them.

S T M A R K T H E A S C E T I C

Wishing to show that - although every Commandment is obligatory - nonetheless it is by His Blood that

Sonship is granted to men, the Lord says: “When you have done all those things which are

Commanded you, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to

do.’” (LUKE 17:10). Thus the Kingdom of Heaven is not a Reward for deeds, but a Gift of the Lord prepared

for Faithful Servants.


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All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, nowand Forever, and unto the Ages of Ages. AmenRemembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Mary,Theotokos yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves andone another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

5 April 2015

Tone 2

Palm SundayO U R L O R D J E S U S C H R I S T ’ S

T R I U M P H A N T E N T R Y I N T O J E R U S A L E M

Also the Feast of St Agathopodes, Deacon,

St Theodoulos, Reader & their fellow Martyrs

of Thessalonika – St Publios, St Theonas, St Symeon& St Phorbinos of Egypt - St Mark the Anchorite of Athens

St Plato the Confessor of Studion – St Theodore of Thessalonika –

St Job of Moscow & All Russia, Translation of Holy Relics

St Claudios

F I R S T F E S T A L A N T I P H O N – P S A L M 1 1 4 / 1 1 5 – T O N E 2

1.

I gapisa, oti isakousete Kyrios tis fonis tis deiseos mou.

Alalaxate to Theo en foni Agalliaseos.

T es Presvies tis Theotokou, Soter, Soson imas.

2. P erieshon me odines Thanatou, kindini Adou evrosanme.

3. T hlipsin ke odinin evron. Ke to Onoma Kyriouepekalesamin.

4. E vapestiso enopion Kyriou, en hora zonton.

D oxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati, ke nin ke ai ke istous Eonas ton eonon.

A min

T es Presvies tis Theotokou, Soter, Soson imas.

1. I have Loved, because the Lord shall hear the voice ofmy Supplication. Shout to God with the Voice ofRejoicing.

T hrough the Intercessions of the Theotokos, OSaviour, Save us.

2. The pains of Death surrounded me; the dangers ofHades found me.

3. I found affliction and grief. Then I called upon theLord’s Name.

4. I shall be well pleasing before the Lord in the Land ofthe Living.

G lory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the HolySpirit, now and forever, and to the Ages of ages.

A men

T

hrough the Intercessions of the Theotokos, OSaviour, Save us.

S E C O N D F E S T A L A N T I P H O N – P S A L M 1 1 5 / 1 1 6 – T O N E 2

1. E pitefsa, dio elalisa. Ego de etapinothin sfodra.

S oson imas, Iie Theou, O EP I PO L O U O NO U KA T H ES T H I S ,psalontas Si: Allilouia!

2. T i antapodoso to Kyrio peri panton, on antapedoke mi?

3. P otirion Sotiriou lipsome ke to Onoma Kyriouepikalesome.

4. S i Thiso Thisian eneseos

S oson imas, Iie Theou, O EP I PO L O U O NO U KA T H ES T H I S ,psalontas Si: Allilouia!

D oxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati, ke nin ke ai ke is

tous Eonas ton eonon.A min

1. I believed, therefore, I spoke; I was greatly humbled.

S ave us, O Son of God, W H O S A T O N A D O N K E Y ’ S CO L T ,who sing to Thee: Alleluia!

2. What shall I render unto the Lord for all He hasgranted to me?

3. I will take up the Cup of Salvation, and call upon theName of the Lord.

4. I will offer a Sacrifice of Praise.

S ave us, O Son of God, W H O S A T O N A D O N K E Y ’ S CO L T ,who sing to Thee: Alleluia

G lory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy

Spirit, now and forever, and to the Ages of ages.A men

T H I R D F E S T A L A N T I P H O N – P S A L M 1 1 7 / 1 1 8 – P A L M S U N D A Y - T O N E 1

1. E xomologisthe to Kyrio, oti Agathos, oti is ton eona to

Eleos Aftou.

T in Kinin Anastasin pro tou Sou Pathous Pistoumenos,

ek nekron igiras ton Lazaron, Hriste O Theos.Othen ke imis os i Pedes, ta tis Nikis symbolaferontes, Si to Nikiti tou Thanatou voomen. Osannaen tis Ipsistis, Evlogimenos O erhomenos, enOnomati Kyriou!

2. I pato di Ikos Israil oti Agathos, oti is ton eona to Eleos

Aftou.

3. I pato di ikos Aaron oti Agathos, oti is ton eona to Eleos

Aftou.

4. I patosan dip antes i fovoumeni ton Kyrion oti Agathos,

oti is ton eona to Eleos Aftou.

1. Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is Good; for His

Mercy endures forever.

T o confirm the General Resurrection before Thy

Passion, Thou Resurrected Lazaros from the dead, OChrist our God. Therefore, imitating the children,carrying the Symbols of Victory, we cry out to Theethe Victor over Death: “Hosanna in the Highest!Blessed art Thou Who comes in the Name of theLord!”

2. Let the House of Israel say that He is Good; for His

Mercy endures foreve.

3. Let the House of Aaron say that He is Good; for His


4. Let all who fear the Lord say that He is Good; for His



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I S O D I K O N – S M A L L E N T R A N C E H Y M N – T O N E 2

E vlogimenos O erhomenos en Onomati Kyriou. Theos

Kyrios ke Epafanen imin. Soson imas, Iie Theou, O epipolou onou kathesthis.

Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord. God is

the Lord, and He revealed Himself to us. Save us, OSon of God, Who sat upon a donkey’s colt.

F E S T A L A P O L Y T I K I O N – P A L M S U N D A Y – T O N E 1

T in kinin Anastasin pro tou Sou Pathous Pistoumenos, eknekron igiras ton Lazaron, Hriste O Theos. Othen keimis os i Pedes, ta tis Nikis Symbola ferontes, Si to Nikititou Thantou voomen. “Osanna en tis Ipsistis,Evloginmenos O erhomenon, en Onomati Kyriou!”

To confirm the General Resurrection before Thy Passion,Thou Resurrected Lazaros from the dead, O Christ ourGod. Therefore, imitating the children carrying thesymbols of Victory, we cry out to Thee the Victor overDeath: “ Hosanna in the Highest! Blessed art ThouWho comes in the Name of the Lord!”

F E S T A L A P O L Y T I K I O N – P A L M S U N D A Y – T O N E 4

S intafentes Si dia Vaptismatos, Hriste O Theos imon, tis

Athantou zois ixiothimen ti Anastasi Sou, keanimnountes krazomen. Osanna en tis Ipsistis,Evlogimenos O erhomens, en Onomati Kyriou.

We were buried with Thee through Baptism, O Christ ourGod, and thus by Thy Resurrection, we have beengranted Immortal Life, and extolling Thee, we cryaloud: Hosanna in the Highest! Blessed art Thou Whocomes in the Name of the Lord!

F E S T A L K O N T A K I O N – P A L M S U N D A Y – T O N E ( 6 ) P L A G A L 2

T o Throno en Ourano, to polo epi tis Gis, epohoumenos

Hriste O Theos, ton Angelon tin enesin, ke ton Pedonanimnisin prosedexo voonton Si. Evlogimenos i Oerhomenos, ton Adam anakalesasthe.

In Heaven, upon the Throne, on Earth upon the Colt, Thouwere carried, O Christ our God; and the Praise ofAngels, and the Hymns of children Thou received asthey cried to Thee: Blessed art Thou Who comes toCall Adam again.

T H E M E G A L Y N A R I O N – P A L M S U N D A Y – ( I N S T E A D O F “ A X I O N E S T I N . . . ” ) - T O N E 4

T heos Kyrios, ke Epefanen imin. Sistisasthe eortin, ke

Agallomeni, defte Megalinomen Hriston, meta vaion kekladon, imnis kravgazontes. Evlogimenos O erhomenos,en Onomati Kyriou - Sotiros imon!

God is the Lord, and He Appeared to us. O Christians,

appoint a Feast, and with exultant Joy, come, let usMagnify Christ, waving our palms and branches, cryingaloud in Hymns: Blessed is He Who comes in the Nameof the Lord – our Saviour!

P A L M S U N D A Y M A T I N S G O S P E L : M A T T H E W 2 1 : 1 – 1 1 & 1 5 - 1 7C H R I S T ’ S T R I U M P H A N T E N T R Y I N T O J E R U S A L E M

T o kero ekino, ote ingisen O Iisous is Ierosolima ke ilthen isVithsfagi pros to oros ton Eleon, tote apestile dioMathitas legon aftis; “ Porevthite is tin komin tinapenanti imon, ke evtheos evrisete onon dedemeninke polon met aftis. . Porevthite is tin komin tinapenanti imon, ke evtheos evrisete onon dedemeninke polon met aftis. Lisantes agagete mi. Ke ean tisimin ipi ti, erite oti O Kyrios afton hrian ehi.Evtheos de apostelli aftous.

T outo de olon gegone ina plirothi to rithen dia tou Profitou

legontos: Ipate ti thigatri Sion, Idou O Vasilefs Souerhete Si pravs ke epivevikos epi onon ke polon, iionipozigiou.

P orevthentes de i Mathite ke piisantes kathos prosetaxenaftis O Iisous, igagon tin onon ke ton polon, keepethikan epano afton ta imatia afton ke epekathisenepano afton.

O de plistos ohlos estrosan eaton ta imatia en ti odo, alli deekopton kladous apo ton dendron ke estronnion en tiodo.

I de ohli, i proagontes ke i akolouthountes, ekrazonlegones: Osanna to Iio David: Evlogimenos Oerhomenos en onomati Kyriou. Osanna en tis Ipsistis!

K e iselthontos aftou is Ierosolima, esisthi pasa i polislegousa: Tis estin outos? I de ohli elegon.

O utos estin Iisous O Profitis, O apo Nazaret tis Galileas!

I dontes de i arhieris ke grammatis ta Thavmasia a epiiseke tous pedas krazontas en to Iero ke legontas: Osannato Iio David! iganaktisan ke ipon afto. Akouis ti outilegousin?

O de Iisou legi aftis: Ne, oudepote anegnote oti: Ekstomatos nipion ke thilazonton katirtiso enon?

K e katalipon aftous exilthen exo tis poleos is Vithanian.Keiilisthi eki.

Doxa Si, Kyrie, Doxa Si!

At that time, when they drew near Jerusalem, and came toBethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent twoDisciples, saying to them: “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, anda colt with her. Loosen then and bring them to Me.And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say:“The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he willsend them.”

All this was done so that it might be fulfilled which was

spoken by the Prophet, saying: “Tell the daughter ofZion, ‘Behold, Thy King is coming to you, lowly, andsitting on a donkey, a colt, a foal of a donkey.”

So the Disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them.They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clotheson them, and set Him on them.

A very great multitude spread their clothes upon the road;others cut down branches from the trees and spreadthem upon the road.

The multitudes who went before and those who followedcried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessedis He Who comes in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna inthe Highest!”

And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city wasmoved, saying: “Who is this? ”

So the multitudes said: “This is Jesus, the Prophet fromNazareth of Galilee!”

But when the Chief Priests and Scribes saw the wonderfulthings that He did, and the children crying out in theTemple and saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” theywere indignant, and said to Him: “Dost Thou hear whatthese are saying?”

And Jesus said to them: “Yes. Have you never read: “Outof the mouth of babes and nursing infants Thou hasperfected praise”?

And He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, andHe lodged there.

Glory to Thee, O Lord: Glory to Thee! Our Lord Jesus Christ’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem is

celebrated by the Holy Church on Palm Sunday.

By the time of Christ, Jewish Nationalism had led to theexpectation of a political Messiah to deliver them

from Roman oppression and rule and to re-establishKing David’s Kingdom.

In utter Humility, our Lord Jesus emphasised the fact that

He had not come to establish an earthly Kingdom

because He did not enter Jerusalem on a horse or in

a chariot like a conquering hero but instead He

entered on a donkey – a real sign of His Humility and

Peace. (SEE THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH 9:9 LXX)

CHRIST’S TRIUMPHAL ENTRANCE INTO THE HOLY CITYDECLARED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF

A LMIGHTY GOD.

IT WAS ALSO A DIVINE PROMISE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST’S

FINAL ENTRANCE INTO THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM TOGETHER

WITH ALL F AITHFUL BELIEVERS AND OF HIS ACCEPTING THE

NEW JERUSALEM AS HIS PURE BRIDE. (SEE THE REVELATION OF CHRIST –

THE APOCALYPSE 21:2)


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T afta de ouk egnosan i Mathite Aftou to proton, all’ oteEdoxasthi O Iisous, tote emnisthisan oti tafta in ep’ aftogegrammena, ke tafta epiisan Afto.

E martiri oun O ohlos O on met’ Aftou ote ton Lazaronefonisen ek tou mnimiou ke igiren afton ek nekron.

D ia touto ke ipintisen afto O ohlos, oti ikousan touto aftonpepiikene to Simion.

His Disciples did not understand this at first, but whenJesus was Glorified, then they remembered that thishad been written of Him and had been done to Hm.

The crowd that had been with Him when He had calledLazaros out of the tomb and Raised him from the dead

bore witness.The reason why they went to meet him was that they

heard He had done this Sign.This was the third Passover that is mentioned by St John

the Divine Theologian in his Holy Gospel and it is the

setting for the final week of our Lord and Saviour’s

earthly Ministry, which is narrated in careful detail.

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HAD ALREADY BEEN GLORIFIEDTHROUGH HIS SIGNS (D IVINE MIRACLES) AND W ORDS,

AN D IT RE MA IN ED FO R HIM TO BE ULTIMATELY

GLORIFIED THROUGH HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION.

The other Disciples had made the same sort of comment

as Judas Iscariot concerning the expensive oil of

spikenard but with very different motives to his.

At the house of Simon the Leper – (the one grateful leper

in a group of ten whom our Lord Jesus had healed) –

a woman also used very expensive fragrant oil with which to anoint His Head and although the Disciples

protested at the extravagance, our Lord accepted

that anointing as an honour from someone who had

newly discovered Faith in Him.

He also accepted her loving gesture as a Sign of His

approaching Burial. (MATTHEW 26:6 - 13)

Nevertheless, according to St John Chrysostom, His

Disciples were not wrong in principle because MERCY

SHOWN TO THE POOR IS MORE FITTING THAN OUTWARD SIGNS

OR GESTURES SHOWN EVEN TO GOD. (MATTHEW 25:40; JAMES

1:27)

However, the Disciples did not understand that ONCE SUCH

A GIFT HAD BEEN GIVEN, IT WAS A GREATER MERCY TO ACCEPT

IT WITH LOVE – A GAPE .

“If anyone had asked Christ before the woman did this,

He would not have approved it. But after she had

done it, He looked only to the motive itself . For after

the fragrant oil had been poured, what good was a

rebuke?

“Likewise, if you see anyone providing a Sacred Vessel or

Ornament for the walls of a church, do not spoil his

zeal. But IF BEFOREHAND HE ASKS ABOUT IT , COMMAND HIMTO GIVE INSTEAD TO THE POOR .” (ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM)

JUDAS ISCARIOT WAS MOTIVATED BY HIS INSATIABLE GREED WHILE

THE OTHER DISCIPLES WERE MOTIVATED BY THEIR V IRTUE OF

CHARITY /LOVE.

The fact that our Lord Jesus put such a greedy thief likeJudas Iscariot in charge of the money, shows that BY

EVERY MEANS POSSIBLE HE TRIED TO S AVE JUDAS ISCARIOT:

Christ fulfilled Judas Iscariot’s lust for money by

entrusting him with their limited funds and He

allowed him to exercise Apostolic Authority.

Our Lord also washed the feet of Judas Iscariot, just as Hedid to each of His other Disciples, and HE ALLOWED

JUDAS ISCARIOT TO PARTAKE OF THEIR L AST SUPPER - FROM THE

SAME TABLE OF HIS MYSTICAL SUPPER – THE VERY FIRST HOLY

EUCHARIST /COMMUNION.

YET, DESPITE ALL THAT, JUDAS ISCARIOT NEVER OVERCAME HIS

TERRIBLE GREED AND SELFISHNESS.

WHEN JUDAS ISCARIOT IS REFERRED TO AS BEING “ ONE OF THE

T WELVE ,” IT EMPHASISES THE DEPTH AND EXTENT OF HIS FATAL

BETRAYAL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST W HO ACCEPTED HIM

INTO THE INNER S ANCTUM OF HIS E ARTHLY MINISTRY.

It proves and emphasises HOW SHOCKING, DEVASTATING

AND DANGEROUS THOUGHTLESS, SELF-SERVING MOTIVES REALLY

ARE – BOTH TOWARDS GOD AND OUR FELLOW SINNERS!

Trust is a Priceless, Irreplaceable Gift we give to one another.

If that trust is broken or damaged, it can never be repaired or

regained.

Consequently, if we break the trust of others – whether in us or in

others - we will be severely judged due to the inestimable and

irreparable damage and hurt it causes everyone concerned!

Therefore, without fail treat the Wonderful Gift of Trust with the

utmost respect and care – and never for a moment think that

lies, deception, theft, etc will remain a hidden secret!

Sooner or later, God will expose our wickedness to the Bright Light

of His Divine Truth for the whole Universe to behold!

Always be absolutely trustworthy to others as you would like them to

be to you!!

Exposure of our sins is far more devastating and shameful than we

can begin to understand – so we must ensure that we remain

Steadfastly Righteous and Trustworthy through constant Prayers

for Guidance and Spiritual Assistance!

Be ashamed of your sins when you commit them or are tempted

to do so, rather than when you Repent them and Confess thembefore God and His Holy Priesthood. mp

HOLY WEEK BOOKS ARE ESSENTIAL

THIS WEEK

P A L M S U N D A Y – T H E T R I U M P H A L E N T R Y I N T O J E R U S A L E M Today we celebrate one of the Great Feasts of our Church -

Palm Sunday. Today we celebrate Christ as our Kingwho enters our own personal Jerusalem — our heart.

It is a momentary Feast of Joy and Celebration, becausetonight we begin the final leg of our Journey towardsHoly Pascha, and our mood changes from Joy tosolemnity and sorrow as we proceed to the GreatSacrifice that Christ performed for us on the Cross.

Palm Sunday has been celebrated since the earliest days ofChristianity, but the use of Palms in connection withreligious celebrations goes back to Old Testamenttimes, when Palm trees did not grow around the city ofJerusalem, but people would buy imported Palms forreligious celebrations - in particular The Feast ofTabernacles celebrated in Jerusalem. (The Palm branchwas a visual symbol proclaiming the Sovereignty of Godas the True King of the Israelites.)

With the Expectation of the Messiah, and the Events ofChrist’s Ministry, word travelled quickly around Judeathat our Lord was the One Whom the Prophets hadspoken about and Whom everyone was expecting.

Christ had performed the Great Miracle of raising StLazaros from the dead, which foreshadowed His

Glorious Resurrection, so everyone was convinced thatHe is the Messiah-King. He also fulfilled the Prophecy ofZachariah, by entering Jerusalem on a colt as theSalvific King Who would Deliver Israel not fromthe tyranny of the Roman Empire, but from theCurse of Death through His own Death andResurrection.

Orthodox celebrate these Events as they happened

not only in the past, but as they also happen today. Wecelebrate our Eternal King Who enters our heart - ourown personal Jerusalem. But is there room in our heartfor Christ to rule? Often the doors of our hearts arelocked or He is unable to enter because there is alreadyanother ruler of the heart — ourselves. And how do wesolve this problem of trying to let Christ in? How do weinstil God within ourselves?

We must surrender to Divine Will – to the One Who gave usLife!

We are constantly held captive by the temporal things ofthis life and our own ego - slaves to our own passions.

The only way to find Peace, true happiness and True Loveis to surrender to God, to make Him our King, to live intotal Communion with Him. And the way to turn fromthe kingdom of the self into the Kingdom of God isthrough constant daily Prayer, Reflection, andMeditation, frequent Holy Communion, frequentConfession and by reading and understanding theScriptures.

Many complain they have no time to fulfil their SacredDuties but that is only because they are slaves tothemselves. Yet God always has time for us.

As we receive our Palm crosses at the end of the DivineLiturgy, let us take them home and place themsomewhere where we can always see them, so that theyconstantly remind us that Christ is our King and theonly true answer to happiness and meaning in our Life.Let us always make time for Him keeping in mind thatHe is the One with Whom we hope to spend Eternity.Amen.


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All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,now and Forever, and unto the Ages of Ages. AmenRemembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady,Mary, Theotokos yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commitourselves and one another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

17 A pril 2015

Bright Friday The Life-giving Spring

Also the Feast of St Symeon & his fellow Martyrs of Persia – St

Akakios of Melitene – St Zoimas of Solovki – St Alexander of

Svir – St Adrianos of Corinth – St Agapitos of Rome

P A S C H A L A P O L Y T I K I O N - H O L Y P A S C H A

H ristos Anesti ek nekron, Thanato Thanaton patistas,

ke tis en tis mnimasi, Zoin harisamenos! C hrist has Risen from the dead, by Death trampling

upon Death, and has bestowed Life to those in thetombs!

F E S T A L K O N T A K I O N O F T H E S O U R C E O F L I F E – T O N E ( 8 ) P L A G A L 4

E x akenotou Sou Pigis Theoharitote, epivravevis mi

pigazousa ta namata, aenaos tis Sis Haritos iper Logon.Ton gar Logon os tekousan iper ennian, iketevo Sedrosizin me Si Hariti. Ina Krazo Si: Here, Idor Sotirion.

O Lady Graced by God, Thou reward me by letting gush

forth, beyond reason, the Ever-flowing Waters of ThyGrace from Thy perpetual Spring. I entreat Thee, who

bore the Logos, in a manner beyond comprehension, torefresh me in Thy Grace that I may cry out, "HailRedemptive Waters!"

F E S T A L K O N T A K I O N – F O R H O L Y P A S C H A – U N T I L A S C E N S I O N D A Y

I ke en tafo katilthes athanate, alla tou Adou kathiles tin

dinamin; ke Anestis os nikitis, Hriste O Theos, GinexiMiroforis fthengxamenos: Herete! Ke tis sis Apostolisirinin doroumenos, O tis pesousi parehon Anastasin.

Although Thou descended in the grave, O Immortal One,

yet Thou destroyed the power of Hades; and Thouarose as Victor, O Christ our God! To the Myrrh-

bearing Women Thou said: Rejoice! And to ThineApostles Thou granted Thy Peace: the One Who grantsResurrection to the fallen ones.

I N S T E A D O F T H E T H R I C E H O L Y H Y M N :

O si is Hriston Evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe. Allilouia![3]

D oxa Patri, ke Io, ke Agio Pnevmati ke nin ke Ai ke istous eonas ton eonon.

A min

H riston enedisasthe. Allilouia!

D ynamis!

O si is Hriston Evaptisthite, Hriston enedisasthe. Allilouia!

As many of you as have been Baptised into Christ, haveput on Christ: Alleluia! [3]

G lory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the HolySpirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

A men

Have put on Christ: Alleluia!

Power/Strength

As many of you as have been Baptised into Christ, haveput on Christ: Alleluia

F E S T A L P R O K E I M E N O N – P S A L M 1 0 3 – T O N E 4

O s emegalinthi ta Erga Sou, Kyrie. Panta en Sofia epiisas.

E vlogi, i psihi mou, ton Kyrion.

A C T S O F T H E A P O S T L E S A C C O R D I N G T O S T L U K E 3 : 1 – 8 A L A M E M A N I S H E A L E D

E n tes imeres ekines, Petros ke Ioannis anevenon is to Ieron

epi tin Oran tis Prosevhis tin Enatin.K e tis anir holos ek kilias mitros Aftou iparhon evastazeto,

on etithoun kath’ imeran pros tin thiran tou Ierou tinlegomenin ‘Orean’ tou etin eleimosinin para tonisporevomenon is to Ieron.

O s idon Petron ke Ioannin melontas isiene is to Ieron irotaeleimosinin.

A tenisas de Petros is afton sin to Ioanni ipe: “Vlepson isimas!”

O de epihen aftis - prosdokon ti par’ afton lavin.

I pe de Petros: “Argyrion ke hrision ouh iparhi mi. O de ehotouto si didomi: En to Onomati Iisou Hristou touNazareou egire ke peripati.”

K e piasas afton tis dexias hiros igire. Parahrima deestreothisan aftou e vasis ke ta sfira.

K e exallomenos esti ke periepati. Ke isilthe sin aftis is toIeron peripaton - ke allomenos ke enon to Theon.

In those days, Peter and John went up together to the

Temple at the Hour of Prayer, the Ninth Hour.And a certain man who had been lame from his mother’s

womb, was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate ofthe Temple, which is called ‘Beautiful,’ to ask almsfrom those who entered the Temple.

Seeing Peter and John about to enter the Temple, he askedfor alms.

Fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said: “Look at us!”

He gave them his attention - expecting to receivesomething from them.

Peter said: “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I dohave, I give you: in the Name of Jesus Christ ofNazareth, rise up and walk.”

And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, andimmediately his feet and ankle bones received

Strength.And he, leaping up, stood and walked, and entered theTemple with them – walking, leaping and praising God.


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T o Kero ekino, ilthen O Iisous is Kapernaum, aftos ke i MitirAftou ke i Adelphi Aftou ke i Mathite Aftou; ke ekieminan ou pollas imeras.

K e angis in to Pasha ton Ioudeon, ke a nevi is Ierosolima OIisous.

K e evren en to iero tous polountas voas ke provata keperisteras, ke tous kermatistas kathimenou.

K e piisas fragellion ek shinion, pantas exevalen ek touIerou, ta te provata ke tous voas, ke ton kollivistonexehee to kerma ke tas trapezas anestrepse.

K e tis tas peristeras polousin ipen: “Arate tafta entevthen!Mi piite ton Ikon tou Patros Mou Ikon emporiou!”

E mnisthisan de i Mathite Aftou oti gegrammenon estin: “OZilos tou Ikou Sou katafagete Me!”

A pekrithisan oun i Ioudei ke ipon Afto: “Ti symion dikniisimin oti tafta piis?”

A pekrithi Iisous ke ipen aftis: “Lisate ton Naon touton, keen trisin Imeres Egero Afton.”

I pon oun i Ioudei: “ Tessarakonta ke ex etesin okodomithi ONaos outos, ke Si en trisin imeres egeris afton?”

E kinos de elege peri tou Naou tou Somatos Aftou.O te oun igerthi ek nekron, emnisothisan i Mathite Aftou oti

touto elege aftis.K e epistevsan ti grafi ke to Logo, O ipen O Iisous.

At that time, Jesus went down to Capernaum togetherwith His Mother, His Brothers and His Disciples; andthey did not stay there many days.

And the Passover of the Hebrews was at hand, and Jesuswent up to Jerusalem.

And He found in the Temple those who sold oxen andsheep and doves, and the money changers who weredoing business.

And when He had made a whip of cords, He drove themall out of the Temple, with the sheep and the oxen,

and poured out the changers’ money and overturnedthe tables.

And He said to those who sold doves: “Take these thingsaway! Do not make My Father’s House a house ofmerchandise!”

Then His Disciples remembered that it was written: “Zealfor Thy House has eaten Me up!”

The Judeans answered and said to Him: “What Signs dostThou show to us, since Thou do these things?”

Jesus answered and said to them: “Destroy this Temple,and in three days I will Raise it up.”

The Judeans said: “It has taken forty six years to build thisTemple, and Thou wilt Raise it up in three days?!”

But He was speaking of the Temple of His Body.Therefore, when He had Risen from the dead, His Disciples

remembered that He had said this to them.

And they believed the Scripture and the Word that Jesushad spoken.

T H E L I F E - G I V I N G S P R I N G / S O U R C E The Feast of the Life-giving Spring or Source – “Zoodohos

Pigi ” is celebrated on Bright Friday. Today, in additionto the large Temple, the compound of the Life-givingSpring includes the underground Shrine of the Life-giving Spring.

In the fourteenth century, Nicephoros Callistos wrote aboutthe Holy Water and mentioned a total of 63 DivineMiracles, of which 15 occurred during his own time.

The church was rectangular with entrances at each of thefour sides. Part of the church was built undergroundand two marble stairway with 25 steps led down to theHoly Life-giving Spring. The richly decorated church

had a gilded ceiling and many beautiful frescoes andHoly Icons.He particularly commented on the Holy Icons of the

Meeting/Presentation of Christ at the Temple, theTransfiguration, the Crucifixion and the Appearance ofour Resurrected Lord to the Holy Myrrhbearers, theAscension and Pentecost.

Furthermore, there were two Holy Icons depicting theDivine Miracles that occurred at the Life-giving Spring.The names of the Iconographers were Ignatios andHieromonk Gabriel.

Near the church three parecclesia were erected in honourof St Eustratios, St Anna and our Ever Blessed All HolyLady Theotokos.

A number of epigrams express awe, veneration andenthusiasm for the Holy Water and the numerous

Divine Miracles that occurred. Today there remain six by Manual Philes, another six by the Magister Ignatios,and one by John Maropous, as well as various others.

The Icon of the Life-giving Spring/Fount/Source is anEpithet of our Holy Lady, Theotokos whoserepresentation as the Life-giving Source is related to theSacred, Miracle-working Spring, which soon becamevery popular and spread throughout the OrthodoxWorld, particularly in places were there are Miracle-working Springs.

In the 9th century, St Joseph the Hymnographer, gave forthe first time the title “Zoodohos Pigi ” to a Hymn for theAll Holy Mother of God.

A marble fountain, from which water flows, occupies thecentre of the Holy Icon. Above it the Ever BlessedVirgin is depicted holding the Christ Child Whose Hand

is poised in Blessing the Faithful.

Two Angels hover over Her head, carrying scrolls inscribedwith: “Hail! Thou who bear! Hail! Thou who art!”

Surrounding the fountain, in various postures are thosewho seek physical and Spiritual Healing.

Traditionally, a small pond with fish is painted on the sideof the fountain, for ‘Balikli ” mean “place of fish” inTurkish.

While hunting in a beautiful verdant forest, EmperorJustinian had a Vision of a small Chapel with a largecrow of People and a Priest standing before a Spring,which he was told is “the Spring of Miracles .”

So, using the surplus materials from the great Agia Sophia

Church in Constantinople, Emperor Justinian built aMonastery at the site, which was completed in 560.There are many accounts of Divine Miracles that occurred

at that Holy Site as well at many others, which have been also been named for the original Life-givingSpring.

http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2010/04/zoodochos-pege-life-giving-spring-at.html

After the Fall of Constantinople in 1453, the church wastorn down by the Moslems, and the stones were used to

build a mosque. Only a small chapel remained.Twenty-five steps led down into the chapel, which had a

window in the roof to let the light in. The holy Springwas still there, surrounded by a railing.

After the Greek Revolution in 1821, even this little chapelwas destroyed and the Spring was buried under therubble. Christians later obtained permission to rebuildthe chapel, and work began in July of 1833. Whileworkmen were clearing the ground, they uncovered thefoundations of the earlier church. The Sultan allowedthem to build not just a chapel, but a new and beautifulchurch on the foundations of the old one.

Construction began on September 14, 1833, and wascompleted on December 30, 1834. Patriarch ConstantineII consecrated the church on February 2, 1835,dedicating it to the Most Holy Theotokos.

The Turks desecrated and destroyed the church again onSeptember 6, 1955. A smaller church now stands on thesite, and the waters of the Life-Giving Spring continueto work miracles.

There is also a Life-Giving Spring Icon of the Most HolyTheotokos which is commemorated on April 4.


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All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and tothe Holy Spirit, now and Forever, and unto the Ages of Ages. AmenRemembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed andGlorious Lady, Mary, Theotokos yet Ever Virgin, together withall the Saints. And let us commit ourselves and one anotherand our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

19 April 2015 Tone 1

2 nd Sunday of Pascha The Belief of St Thomas

Also the Feast of St John of the Ancient Caves Monastery of Palestine – StChristopher, St Theonas and St Anthony of Nicomedia – St Paphnutios of Jerusalem – St George the Confessor of Antioch, Pisidia – St Tryphon of Constantinople – St Nicephoros of Catabad – St Agathangelos of EsphigmenouMonastery of Mount Athos – St Symeon of Philotheou Monastery, Mount Athos – St Matrona of Moscow





P A S C H A L A P O L Y T I K I O N – S T T H O M A S S U N D A Y – T O N E ( 7 ) V A R Y S / G R A V E

E sfragismenou tou Mnimatos, i Zoi ek Tafou anetilas Hriste

O Theos, ke ton thiron keklismenon, tis Mathites epestis,i panton Anastasis. Pnevma evthes di afton egkenizonimin, kata to Mega Sou Eleos.

O Life, Thou rose from the Sepulchre, even though the

Tomb was secured with a seal, O Christ God. Andalthough the doors had been bolted, Thou went to ThyDisciples, O Resurrection of all. Through them ThouRenew a Right Spirit in us, according to Thy GreatMercy.

P A S C H A L K O N T A K I O N – T O N E ( 8 ) P L A G A L 4

I ke en Tafo katilthes Athanate, alla tou Adou kathiles tin

dymanmin. Ke Anestis os Nikitis, Hriste O Theos, gynexiMyroforis fthegxamenos, Herete, ke tis Sis ApostolisIrinin doroumenos, O tis pesousi parehon Anastasin.

Although Thou went down into the Tomb, O Immortal

One, yet Thou took down the dominion of Hades; andThou Arose as Victor, O Christ our God; and Thoucalled out “Rejoice!” to the Myrrh-bearing Women, andgranted Peace to Thine Apostles, O Lord, Who to thefallen grant Resurrection.

R E S U R R E C T I O N G O S P E L 1 – M A T T H E W 2 8 : 1 6 - 2 0THE GREAT COMMISSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

R E S U R R E C T I O N P R O K E I M E N O N – T O N E 3

M egas O Kyrios imon, ke megali i Ishis Aftou.

E nite ton Kyrion, oti Agathos Kyrios. Psalate to OnomatiAftou, oti Kalon.

Great is our Lord and Great is His Strength.

Praise the Lord, for the Lord is Good; Sing to His Name,for it is Good.

T H E A C T S O F T H E A P O S T L E S A C C O R D I N G T O S T L U K E 5 : 1 2 – 2 0En tes imeras ekines, ia ton hiron ton Apostolonegineto

simian ke terata en to lao polla.Ke i san omothimadon apantes en ti Stoa Solomontos.Ton de lipon oudis etoma kollasthe aftis, all’ emegalinen

aftous O laos.Malon de prosetithento pistevontes to Kyrio plithi andron t

eke ginekon.Oste kata tas platias ekrerin tous asthenis ke tithene epi

klinon ke kravatton, ina erhomenou Petrou kan i skia

episkiasi tini afton.Einirheto de ke to plithos ton perix poleon Ierousalim,ferontes asthenis ke ohloumenous ipo pnevmatonakatharon, itines etherapevonto apantes.

Anastas de O arhierefs ke pantes i Sin afto, i ousa eresis tonSaddoukeon, eplisthisan zilou ke epevalon tas hiras epitous apostolous ke ethento aftous en tirisi dimosia.

Angelos de Kyriou dia niktos inixe tas thiras tis filakisexagagon te aftous ipe: Porevesthe ke stathentes laliteen to Iero to lao panta ta rimata tis Zois taftis.

In those days, many Signs and Wonders were done amongthe people by the hands of the Apostles.

And they were altogether in Solomon’s Portico.None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held

them in high honour.And more than ever, Believers were added to the Lord,

multitudes both of men and women, so that they evencarried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on

beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his

shadow might fall on some of them.The people also gathered from the towns aroundJerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted withunclean spirits, and they were all Healed.

But the High Priest rose up and all who were with him, -that is the party of the Sadducees – and filled with

jealousy, they arrested the Apostles and put them inthe common prison.

But at night an Angel of the Lord opened the prison doorsand took them out, and said: “Go and stand in theTemple, and speak to the people all the Words of thisLife.”

Having received the Divine Power and Authority from our

Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, His Holy Apostles were

Empowered and enabled by God to perform “many

Signs and Wonders .”

In other words: GOD ENABLED THEM TO CONTINUE HIS DIVINEMISSION OF LOVE – HEALING THE AFFLICTED AND

ENLIGHTENING THE MINDS AND SOULS WITH DIVINE TRUTH.

THUS THE DIVINE POWER OF GOD RESTS IN HIS HOLY,

UNIVERSAL CHURCH.

W HILE MANY PEOPLE HAD GREAT F AITH, ST PETER WAS GRANTED A

PARTICULAR DIVINE GRACE TO HEAL people of all their

physical and spiritual ailments in order to draw them

close to the Holy Unity of Christ’s Church.

JOHN 14:12 Christ said: “Most assuredly, I say to

you: he who believes in Me - the Works that I do –

he will do also; and greater Works than these hewill do, because I go to My Father.”

These “greater Works” indicate that OUR LORD JESUS

CHRIST WORKS THROUGH US MERE HUMAN BEINGS AFTER

THE GLORIOUS D AY OF PENTECOST, WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT

CAME TO ASSIST US BY MEANS OF HIS DIVINE GIFTS, AND,

ACCORDING TO CHRIST, THESE GOOD W ORKS AND


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MIRACLES ARE EVEN GREATER THAT HIS OWN DIRECT SIGNS

AND W ONDERS, which He did while still physically

with us, since THEY ARE FOUNDED ON GENUINE AND TRUE

F AITH IN CHRIST.

These Great Works, which are attested to by St Luke in his

Book of the Acts of the Apostles, include the spreadingof Christ’s Holy Gospel – Divine Truth – throughout the

world, the Miraculous Healings, and the raising of the

dead.

Furthermore, this particular passage of Holy Scripture

reveals to us how GOD WORKS THROUGH HIS PHYSICAL

CREATION, BECAUSE EVEN LIGHT AND “SHADOW ” ARE GRANTED

DIVINE POWER – ARE S ANCTIFIED OR MADE HOLY. The Miracles that were initially performed by His Holy

Apostles followed those that were performed by our

Lord Jesus Christ and therefore show us clearly that

CHRIST LIVES AND W ORKS THROUGH HIS F AITHFUL DISCIPLES –Faithful Believers and Followers – Faithful Christians.

OF PARTICULAR SIGNIFICANCE IS THE MANNER WHEREBY

PHYSICAL OBJECTS - such as handkerchiefs, aprons or

cloths, which are Sanctified through contact with

Christ and with those of Great Faith - BECOME HOLY

OR S ANCTIFIED INSTRUMENTS OF DIVINE GRACE TO OTHERS

WHO ARE BLESSED WITH PROFOUND F AITH – THROUGH

CONTACT WITH DIVINE POWER AND W ILL.

The fact that Almighty God works Wonders or Miracles

through both His Saints and physical objects, shows us

that CREATION ITSELF IS CONSTANTLY BEING RENEWED.

FOR EXAMPLES OF OBJECTS BESTOWING SUCH DIVINE GRACE

UPON THE FAITHFUL READ: NUMBERS 21:8-9; 4 KINGS 13:20-

21; MARK 6:12-13; LUKE 8:41-48 & JOHN 9:6-7

DIVINE SIGNS AND W ONDERS ARE GRANTED BY GOD, not as

ends in themselves, but TO ENCOURAGE AND TO

STRENGTHEN THE A POSTLES AND DISCIPLES OF CHRIST TO

PREACH AND TO CONFIRM DIVINE TRUTH – THE HOLY

GOSPEL OF CHRIST JESUS.

ACTS 4:29-31: (THE APOSTLES PRAYED :) “ ‘... Lord, look

on their threats, and grant to Thy Servants that

with all boldness they may speak Thy Word, by

stretching out Thy Hand to heal, and that Signs

and Wonders may be done through the Name of

Thy Holy Servant Jesus.’ And when they had

prayed, the place where they were assembled

together was shaken; and they were all filled with

the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God

with boldness.”

The Apostles prayed for “Signs and Wonders ,” in order TO

RECEIVE FROM GOD THE “BOLDNESS” OR COURAGE AND ABILITY

TO PREACH AND TO CONFIRM THE DIVINE TRUTH OF THEIR TRUETEACHINGS – THE HOLY GOSPEL OF CHRIST.

W HILE THE HOLY SPIRIT PERPETUALLY A BIDES IN THE HOLY

CHURCH, HIS DIVINE PRESENCE IS EXPERIENCED AGAIN AND

AGAIN IN OUR LITURGICAL A SSEMBLIES – COMMUNAL

WORSHIP – AND IN RECURRING PENTECOSTAL

OUTPOURINGS.

It is of great significance how quickly the Petition of the

Apostles and Disciples was answered by God.

With utter confidence – True Faith – in God, we are ableto achieve amazing Labours of Love for His Glory,

Honour and Worship!

The choice is ours – whether TO SURRENDER OUR HEARTS AND

SOULS TO OUR LOVING AND BENEVOLENT GOD AND ACCOMPLISH

HIS GREAT W ORKS - or not, and to continue our aimless

struggles through our fruitless and futile days!

While Almighty God commands our obedience to earthlygoverning authorities, OUR HUMBLE OBEDIENCE TO GOD

MUST ALWAYS COME BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE.

BUT AND WHEN THE TWO ARE IN CONFLICT, THE F AITHFUL MUST

RATHER FOLLOW GOD AND BE WILLING TO ACCEPT THE

TEMPORARY CONSEQUENCES – SUCH AS M ARTYRDOM – FOR

THE ETERNAL CONSEQUENCES OF ETERNAL LIFE.

T H E H O L Y G O S P E L A C C O R D I N G T O S T J O H N 2 0 : 1 9 – 3 1T H E I N C R E D U L I T Y A N D B E L I E F O F S T T H O M A S “ D I D Y M O S ”

Ousis opsias ti imera ekini ti mia Savvaton, ke ton thironkeklismenon opou isan i Mathite sinigmeni dia ton fovonton Ioudeon, ilthen O Iisous ke esti is to meson, ke legiaftis: “ Irini imin.”

Ke touto ipen edixen aftis tas Hiras ke tin Plevran Aftou.

Exarisan oun i Mathite idontes ton Kyrion.Ipen oun aftis O Iisou palin: “Irini imin. Kathos apestalke

me O Patir, kago pempo imas.” Ke touto ipon enefisise ke legi aftis: “ Lavete Pnevma Agion.

An tinon afite tas amartias, afiente aftis, an tinonkratite, kekratinte.”

Thomas de is ek ton Dodeka O legomenos ‘Didymos,’ ouk inmet’ afton ote ilthen O Iisous.

Elegon oun afto i alli Mathite. “Eorakamen ton Kyrion!”O de ipen aftis: “Ean mi ido en tes Hersin Aftou ton tipon

ton ilon, ke valo ton daktilon mou is ton tipon ton ilon,ke valo tin hira mou is tin Plevran Aftou, ou miPistefso!”

Ke meth’ imeras okto palin isan eso i Mathite Aftou ke

Thomas met’ Afton.Erhete O Iisous ton thiron keklismenon, ke esti is to meson

ke ipen: “ Irini imin!” Ita legi to Thomas: “Fere ton daktolon sou ode ke ide tas

Hiras Mou, ke fere tin Hira Sou ke vale is tin PlevranMou, ke mi ginou apistos, alla Pistos!”

Ke apekrithi Thomas ke ipen Afto: “O Kyrios mou ke OTheos mou!”

Legi aft’ O Iisous: “ Oti eorakas me, pepistevkas. Makariii mi idontes ke pistevsantes.”

Polla men oun ke alla Simian epiisen O Isous enopion tonMathiton Aftou, a ouk esti gegrammena en to vivliotouto.

Tafta de gegrapte ina pistevsite oti Iisous estin O Hristo OIios tou Theou, ke ina Pistevontes Zoin eite en toOnomati Aftou.

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week - thedoors being shut where the Disciples were for fear ofthe Judeans - Jesus came and stood among them andsaid to them: “Peace be with you .”

And, having said this, He showed them His Wrists and His

Side.Then the Disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.Jesus said to them again: “Peace be to you! As the Father

has sent me, even so I send you .”And when He had said this, He breathed upon them, and

said to them: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgivethe sins of any, they are forgiven if you retain thesins of any, they are retained .”

Thomas, one of the Twelve, nick-named ‘the Twin,’ was notwith them when Jesus came.

So the other Disciples told him: “We have seen the Lord!” He said to them: “Unless I see in His Wrists the imprint of

the nails, and place my hand in His Side, I will notbelieve!”

And eight days later, His Disciples were again in the house,

and Thomas was with them.The doors were locked, but Jesus came and stood among

them, and said: “Peace be with you.”He said to Thomas: “Put your finger here, and see My

Wrists; and put out your hand, and place it in MySide, and do not be unbelieving, but believe!”

And Thomas answered Him: “My Lord and my God!”Jesus said to Him: “You have believed because you have

seen Me. Blessed are those who have not seen, andbelieve!”

And Jesus did many other Signs in the presence of theDisciples, which are not written in this Book.

These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is theChrist – the Son of God – and so that believing you mayhave Life in His Name.

THE “F IRST DAY OF THE WEEK ” IS SUNDAY.

Sunday is known as “The Lord’s Day ” because it is

dedicated to the Glorious Resurrection of our Lord

and Saviour, Jesus Christ, which is CELEBRATED AS HOLY

P ASCHA OR R ESURRECTION D AY EVERY S UNDAY THROUGHOUT

THE YEAR .

Because we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ on

Sundays, WE DO NOT KNEEL DOWN ON SUNDAYS BUT WE DO

BOW DEEPLY – although it is never “wrong” if one does

kneel down in genuine worship and reverence before

God.

During the week we kneel down at the appropriatemoments of the Divine Liturgy or other Holy Services.


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Our Lord Jesus Christ’s Divine Greeting: “Peace be

with you!” is used throughout our Divine Liturgy

and Holy Services by the Holy Priesthood.

The Hellenistic Greek word for “hands ” and “wrists ” is

the same.

Pathologically, we know that CRUCIFIXION VICTIMS WERE

NAILED THROUGH THE TINY GAP BETWEEN THE BONES OF THE

WRIST AND FEET TO SUPPORT THE BODY, but which also

caused indescribable pain and suffering.

This fulfilled the prediction that NOT A BONE OF CHRIST’S

PRECIOUS BODY WOULD BE BROKEN.

The experienced Roman executioners had their grim

torture down to the finest detail, not wanting thecondemned to die too quickly but to suffer the longest

and worst type of pain in “retribution” for their

“crimes.”

CRUCIFIXION VICTIMS WOULD BE SUSPENDED FOR DAYS UNLESS

THEIR LEGS WERE BROKEN and they perished in agony

from the dreadful effects of green-stick fractures of

their legs.

CHRIST, IN HIS DIVINE N ATURE, CHOSE THE EXACT HOUR OF HIS

DEATH, to the astonishment of the executioners who

then checked whether He was truly dead by piercing

His Side between the fifth and sixth Ribs with a lance.

So much “Water and Blood ” poured from His Lungs – due

to soft tissue damage caused by His unlawful and

merciless scourging, as well as the drowning effects of

crucifixion, (as lungs filled with unexhaled moisture

due to not being able to breathe properly whilesuspended by the wrists, as well as internal bleeding

caused by various other means of torture, such as

scourging and beating).

The reference to “eight days ” is also an oblique

reference to THE EIGHTH D AY – THE FINAL D AY /FIRST

D AY OF ETERNITY AND OUR GENERAL RESURRECTION AND

JUDGEMENT WHEN ALL DIVINE TRUTH IS REVEALED CLEARLY

TO ALL CREATION.

The words of Christ spoken directly to St Thomas, show

us that GOD IS ALWAYS PRESENT AND THAT HE W ITNESSES

EVERYTHING THAT WE THINK, SPEAK OR DO!

St Thomas was known as ‘the Twin,’ because he was

always in two minds or ‘double-minded’ about

various matters – i.e. HE QUESTIONED AND STUDIED

EVERYTHING BEFORE ACCEPTING OR REJECTING IT.“Didymos ” was a nickname bestowed on him by our Lord,

Who knows every aspect of every soul whom He has

created!

A LTHOUGH ST THOMAS DID NOT ACTUALLY TOUCH OR FEEL

CHRIST’S W OUNDS, DESPITE BEING INVITED TO DO SO, HE

MADE THE MOST HEARTFELT CONFESSION OF F AITH: “My

Lord and my God!”

CHRIST A FFIRMS THAT EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES WITHOUT

HAVING TO PERSONALLY WITNESS EVERYTHING HE DOES, OR

SAYS OR TEACHES, IS EVEN MORE BLESSED WITH A DEEPER

F AITH THAT IS IMPRINTED ON ONE’S VERY SOUL!

F AITH IS THE RECOGNITION AND A CKNOWLEDGEMENT OF

DIVINE TRUTH BY OUR GOD-GIVEN IMMORTAL SOUL!

CHRIST COMMISSIONED HIS A POSTLES AND F AITHFUL

DISCIPLES TO CONTINUE HIS DIVINE MISSION ON EARTH,

GRANTING THEM THE HOLY SPIRIT W HO ENABLES,

EMPOWERS AND ACTIVATES Us so that we can

accomplish His Divine Will even beyond our own

expectations and abilities.

CHRIST ALSO BESTOWED HIS DIVINE A UTHORITY TO FORGIVETHE SINS OF REPENTANT SINNERS.

THROUGH THIS DIRECT CONSECRATION AND THROUGH THE HOLY

A POSTOLIC SUCCESSION OR CONTINUITY, OUR LORD JESUS

CHRIST’S OWN HOLY PRIESTHOOD IS COMMUNICATED TO HIS

BISHOPS AND PRESBYTERs (Priests) of His Holy Church.

The “doubt” or rather the incredulity of St Thomas is

described in the Holy Church as “Blessed ,” for IT

WAS NOT A DOUBT OF RESISTANCE TO DIVINE TRUTH, BUT

ONE THAT DESPERATELY DESIRED A TRUTHFUL ANSWER – a

“... doubt which gave birth to Faith,” when the

answer was revealed to him.

In the Hymns of the Holy Church of Christ, our Lord says to

St Thomas: “Thy doubt will teach My Passion and

Resurrection to all.”

And we affirm that THE “DOUBT ” OR INCREDULITY OF ST THOMAS

“... BROUGHT THE HEARTS OF BELIEVERS TO KNOWLEDGE ” OF

GOD.

The Conversion of St Thomas’ incredulity to Faith LED HIM

TO THE CLEAREST AND MOST CONCISE CONFESSION OF F AITH in

Christ’s Divinity, addressing our Lord Jesus Christ as“My Lord and my God!”

Once again St John the Divine reminds us that WHAT IS

WRITTEN AND RECORDED IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURE OF THE

NEW TESTAMENT IS ONLY A FEW OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT

W ORKS, DEEDS AND TEACHINGS OF OUR LORD JESUS

CHRIST, WHICH ARE RECORDED FOR OUR BENEFIT – SO THAT

WE “... may believe that Jesus is the Christ – the

Son of God – and THAT BELIEVING (WE) MAY HAVE LIFE IN

H IS (DIVINE) N AME .”

This is also a reminder that the New Covenant Scriptures

came from the Church – not vice versa!Therefore, those whose Faith is only ‘Scripture based,’ are

ignoring the greater part of our Christian Faith, which

consists of the verbal Teachings, the Holy Mysteries,

etc

T H E S E C O N D S U N D A Y O F P A S C H A - S U N D A Y O F S T T H O M A S B Y R E V E RE ND F A T H E R S E R G E I S V E S H NI KO V (2009)

Christ is Risen! Indeed He has Risen!Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ!All of Bright Week we lived in the Paschal Joy of our Risen

Saviour; and our Joy, just like that of the Holy Apostles,was mixed with confusion.

Not long ago we had remembered the Death of Him Who isthe Source of Life, but now we Rejoice, having beenraised to Life by Him Who had been in the Tomb.

Just like the Holy Disciples and Apostles during the firstdays after the Resurrection, we vividly remembered thePassions of Christ during the reading of the 12 Gospels;our Lord’s Death and the taking down of His Body fromthe Cross, which we symbolized by the bringing out ofthe Shroud; our Saviour’s Burial, when we carried theShroud in procession around the church; and the longhours awaiting the Miracle on the Saturday of GreatStillness.

Although from the very early morning on the Day of theResurrection the Good News of the Resurrection wascarried throughout Creation, and even though Angelsfrom Heaven and Holy Myrrhbearers on Earth and even

the guards at the Sanhedrin had already told of theMiracle, the Apostles were still in a state of fear anddoubt, hiding behind doors and locks “…for the fear ofthe Judeans .” (MARK 16:6; LUKE 24:9; (MATTHEW 28:11; JOHN

20:19).

The Disciples’ doubt is not surprising, for they werewitness to the Greatest Miracle in the history ofCreation: humans killed God, and then He rose from the

dead and Saved the dying human race from the claws ofHell.

The Disciples of Christ, after their Teacher’s arrest, forgotall of His Prophesies concerning the things about totake place.

They did not believe the miraculous story of the HolyMyrrhbearers and even while talking to the Risen OneFace to face, they hesitated to trust their own hearts,which were burning and trembling in the Presence ofGod. (MARK 16:11; LUKE 24:11; LUKE 24:25; LUKE 24:32).

This marvellous unbelief - human weakness - incapable ofencompassing the magnitude of the Miracle that tookplace - is reflected in the famous words of the Apostle,St Thomas: “Unless I see the nail marks in His Wrists andfeel the imprint of the nails, and put my hand into HisSide, I will not believe.” (LUKE 24:41; JOHN 20:25)

People often refer to St Thomas as “doubting ,” withoutconsidering the depth and the height of the “doubt ” ofthis Holy Apostle.

But let us look more carefully at this man.Was his ‘doubt’ the same as that of the Judeans who yelled

about the Saviour Whom they had crucified:“Let Himcome down now from the Cross, and we will believe inHim!” or was it similar to that which we hear from ourcontemporaries: “If there is God, let Him show Himself toall, and we will believe in Him and live happily everafter ”? (MATTHEW 27:42)


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The ancient Scribes and Pharisees knew about all of Christ’sMiracles and, it appears, guessed Who Jesus of Galileereally was.

But every time they were faced with the Divine, they became even more rooted in blasphemy.

Having found out that Christ had Healed a man born blind(born without eyes!), instead of offering praises of GreatJoy to Almighty God, they spewed forth curses: “Thisman is a sinner [and] you were steeped in sin at birth!”(JOHN 9:24 & 34).

Having heard that Christ had Resurrected a four-day-deadand already decomposing man, and, apparently, not

having any more doubts about Christ’s Divinity, theElders of the Nation decided that they needed “…to killLazaros as well .” (JOHN 12:10)

Finally, after being faced with the fact of Christ’sMiraculous Resurrection, and having heard theeyewitness accounts of the guards who had fallen onthe ground, trembling in abject terror, in the presenceof a shining Angel of God, the Elders were forced to

bribe the soldiers in order to deceive the people andprevent them from learning the Truth, thereby furtherdeepening their blasphemy. (MATTHEW 28:4; 11 & 12 – 14)

Our contemporary Pharisees also only further deepen their blasphemy, although they have come Face to face withour Resurrected Lord and Saviour, either by not beingconvinced even by or stubbornly rejecting the DivineMiracles.

Nonetheless, St Thomas was certainly not one of them.We know about his faithfulness and Sacrificial Love for his

Beloved Teacher.After following our Saviour for three years, St Thomas

understood very well the danger Christ faced from theScribes and the Pharisees.

The other Disciples and Holy Apostles also understood thedangerous circumstances and threats very well.

Therefore, when our Lord Jesus Christ decided to go toJerusalem, His Apostles tried to persuade Him not to doso – cautioning Him with regard to the impendingdanger from His enemies. (JOHN 11:8).

However, it was St Thomas who said: “Let us also go, thatwe may die with Him.” (JOHN 11:16).

Seldom, if ever are such words of courage heard from anydoubter!

After the Ascension of Christ, St Thomas went to preachthe Holy Gospel in one of the furthest and mostdifficult places of the ancient world to reach—India -where he was eventually seized by the pagans who thentortured and killed him for His Faith in and Love of ourLord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

But on that Eighth Day after the Glorious Resurrection ofChrist, when He appeared in the midst of His Faithful

Disciples and Apostles – as well as St Thomas - HisHoly Apostle needed only a small push in order for himwho so selflessly Loved his Teacher to realize to Whomhe had devoted his Life, which compelled him toexclaim: “My Lord and my God!”

St Thomas - from the very depths of his heart and soul -loudly and spontaneously made his Confession of Faithto our Lord.

To those who are like St Thomas, God comes. This is thekind of person whom He allows to touch Him!

In His desire to Save us, Christ suffered everything:mocking and scourging, torture and shameful death,and even inviting the examination of His Wounds afterHis Glorious Resurrection.

If He is awaited, Christ will enter - even through closeddoors (JOHN 20:26).

But what will He hear when He enters our heart? Will Hehear our spontaneous, loving and devout Confession ofFaith: “My Lord and my God !” or will He be confronted

by mocking, insults and scourging?Will we worship Him, as did St. Thomas, or will we crucify

Him with our lack of Repentance or stone him with thehuge, heavy rocks of our sins?

O Lord Jesus Christ – our Most Beloved Saviour - throughthe Intercessory Prayers of Thy Holy Apostle, StThomas, grant us Faith and help our unbelief!

Amen. http://www.pravmir.com/article_593.html

T H E I N S P I R E D E T E R N A L W I S D O M O F O U R H O L Y C H U R C H F A T H E R S S T J O H N O F K R O N S T A D T

You must Love everyone with your whole soul, but put your

hope in the one God, and serve Him alone.For as long as He is protecting us and our friends (theAngels) are helping us, our enemies (the demons)cannot inflict evil upon us.

But when He forsakes us, then also our friends turn awayfrom us, and our enemies receive power over us.

S T G R E G O R Y P A L A M A S Do not be slothful in praying fervently for others at their

request, or of yourself, and together with them; you willthus obtain a recompense from God—the Grace of Godin your heart, which shall Rejoice you and Strengthenyou in Faith and Love for God and your neighbour.

These words are true; they are taken from experience.In general, we do not pray very willingly for others, but

more out of obligation and habit, and without our heartfully participating in the Prayer; we must force

ourselves to pray from the whole heart, with great Faith,with great boldness, in order that we may obtain greatand rich Mercy from the bountiful and greatly-endowingGod!

"Let him ask ," it is said, "in Faith, nothing wavering: for hewho wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with thewind and tossed."

It pleases the Lord, the common Father of all, when we prayfor each other willingly with Faith and Love, for He isLove, ready to forgive all for their mutual Love.

The Holy Spirit said: "Pray one for another, that you may beHealed .''

You see how pleasing to God, and how efficacious, is thePrayer of one for another.

S T M A X I M O S C O N F E S S O R The Father, therefore, through the Son Reconciles us to

Himself, not taking into account our offences and HeCalls us, not in so far as we are engaged in unseemlyworks, but in so far as we are idle; although idleness isalso a sin, since we shall give an account even for anidle word (2 CORINTHIANS 5:19 & MATTHEW 12:36)

But, as I said. God overlooks former sins and Calls us againand again. And what does He Call us to do? To work in

the Vineyard -, that is, to work on behalf of theBranches - on behalf of ourselves.

And afterwards – O the incomparable grandeur of HisCompassion! - He promises and grants us a Reward fortoiling on our own behalf.

'Come ,' He says, 'receive Eternal Life, which I bestowabundantly; and as though in your debt I reward youin full for the labour of your Journey and even for your very desire to receive Eternal Life from Me .'

T H E M Y S T E R Y O F T H E C H U R C H And the Corporate Nature of Salvation

There is a certain emptiness in trying to live the ChristianLife outside the Life of the Church. This is because it isimpossible to truly live as a Christian without theChurch. The reading of the Scriptures, and ourcommitment to Prayer, are important Foundations inthe Life of a Christian, but they are incomplete withoutthe Mystical and Sacramental Life that is found within

the Church.If we hope to grow Spiritually, we will take advantage of the

Mysteries that are found only within the Church.Without the Mystery of Penance, and the Absolution of the

Church, we have no hope of Transformation andHoliness, for without the Corporate Life of the Church,our sins keep us captive.

Without the Mystery of Christ's Body and Blood, receivedduring the celebration of the Church's Divine Liturgy,the Healing of the soul remains undone, and Salvationis next to impossible.

The centre of the Church's Eucharistic Liturgy is to befound in the Descent, the Appearance, the DivinePresence of the Resurrected Christ, and is central toevery moment of the Liturgy. As Believers, the partakingof Communion is actually that moment when we areencountering the Living Person of the Lord Who entersthe Congregation as "King of the Universe borneinvisibly over their spears by the Angelic Hosts ." This actis so central to the Life of a Christian, as to make it thenecessary component to being a Christian.

With love in Christ,Abbot Tryphon


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All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and Forever, and untothe Ages of Ages. AmenRemembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Mary,Theotokos yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselves andone another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

23 April 2015

St George the Great Holy Martyr & Trophy Bearer

Also the Feast of St Alexandria the Empress, wife of Diocletian – St

Anatolios & St Protoleon the Soldiers, converted witnesses of StGeorge’s Martyrdom –St Lazaros of Bulgaria


H ristos Anesti ek nekron, Thanato Thanaton patistas, ke

tis en tis mnimasi, Zoin harisamenos! Christ has Risen from the dead, by Death trampling


I S I D O K I N – T O N E 2

E n Ekklisias Evlogite ton Theon, Kyrion ek pigon Israil.

Soson imas, Iie Theou, O Anastas ek nekron, psallontas

Si, Allelouia!

Bless God in the churches, the Lord from the Fountains of

Israel. Save us, O Son of God, Who arose from the

dead, who sing to Thee: Alleluia!P A S C H A L A P O L Y T I K I O N – T O N E ( 7 ) V A R Y S / G R A V E


O Theos, ke ton thiron keklismenon, tis Mathites epestis,i panton Anastasis. Pnevma evthes di’ afton egkenizonimin, kata to Mega Sou Eleos.


Tomb was secured with a seal, O Christ God, Andalthough the doors had been bolted, Thou went to ThyDisciples, O Resurrection of all. Through them ThouRenew a Right Spirit in us, according to Thy GreatMercy.

F E S T A L K O N T A K I O N – S T G E O R G E T H E G R E A T H O L Y M A R T Y R – T O N E 4

O s ton ehmaloton eleftherotis, ke ton ptohon iperaspistis,asthenounton iatroa, Vasileon Ipermahos, TropeoforeMegalomartys Georgie, presveve Hristo to Theo, sothinetas psihas imon.

Being renowned for setting captives free and fordefending those in poverty, the Physician of the sickand the Champion of Emperors, Great and VictoriousMartyr George: Intercede with Christ our God,

beseeching Him to Save our soul.

F E S T A L K O N T A K I O N – T O N E ( 8 ) P L A G A L 4

T i filopragmoni dexia, tin Zooparohon Sou Plevran, O

Thomas exirevnise Hriste O Theos. Sigkeklismenon garton thiron os isilthes, Sin tis lipis Apostolis evoa Si: Kyriosiparhis ke Theos mou!

With his scrutinizing hand, Thomas examined Thy Life

Bestowing Side, O Christ our God. When Thouentered while the doors were bolted, he cried out toThee with the rest of the Apostles: Thou art my Lordand my God!

F E S T A L P R O K E I M E N O N – P S A L M 6 3 / 6 4 – T O N E ( 7 ) V A R Y S / G R A V E

E ufranthisete Dikeos en Kyrio ke Elpii ep’ Afton.

I sakouson, O Theos, tis fonis mou, en to deesthe me pros Se.

The Righteous Man shall be glad in the Lord, and shall

Hope in Him.

Hear my voice, O God, in my Supplication

T H E A C T S O F T H E A P O S T L E S A C C O R D I N G T O S T L U K E 1 2 : 1 – 1 1

Kat’ ekinon ton keron epevalen Irodis O Vasilefs tas hiraskakose tinas ton apo tis Ekklisies.

Anile de Iakovon ton Adelphon Ioannou mahera.

Kei don oti areston esti tis Ioudeis, prosetheto sillavin kePetron.

Isan de e imere ton Azimon.On ke piasas etheto is filakin, paradous tessarsi tetradiis

stratioton filassin afton, voulomenos meta to Pashaanagagin afton to lao.

O men oun Petros etirito en ti filaki.Prosevhide in ektenis ginomeni ipo tis Ekklisias pros ton

Theon iper aftou.Ote de emellen afton proagin O Irodis, ti nikti ekini in O

Petros kimomenos metaxi dio stratioton dedemenosalisesi disi, filakes te pro tis thiras etiroun tin filakin.

Ke idou! Angelos Kyrou epesti ke Fos elampsen en toikimati.

Pataxas de tin plevran tou Petrou igiren afton legon:“Anasta en tahi!”

Ke exepeson Aftou e alisis ek ton hiron.Ipe te O Angelos pros afton: “Perizose ke ipodise ta

sandalia sou!”Epiise de outo.

About that time, Herod the King laid violent hands uponsome who belonged to the Church.

He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.

And when he saw that it pleased the Judeans, heproceeded to arrest Peter also.

This was during the Days of Unleavened Bread.When he had seized him, he put him in prison, and

delivered him to four squads of soldiers to guard him,intending, after Passover, to take him out to thepeople.

Peter was kept imprisoned.Earnest Prayers for him were made to God by the Church.

The very night that Herod was about to take him out, Peterwas sleeping between two soldiers, bound with twochains, and sentries before the door were guarding theprison.

And behold! An Angel of the Lord appeared, and a Lightshone in the cell.

He struck Peter on his side to wake him, saying to him:“Get up quickly !”

And the chains fell off his hands.The Angel said to him: “Put your sandals on your feet!”

And he did so.


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Ke legi afto: “Pervalou to imation sou ke akoulouthis mi!”

Ke exelthon ikolouthis afto.Ke ouk idi oti alithes esti to ginomenon dia tou Angelou,

ekoki de Orma velpin.Dielthontes de protin filakin ke defteran ilthon epi tin pilin

tin sidiran tin ferousan is tin polin.Itis aftomati inohthi aftis.Ke exelthontes proilthon rimin mian.Ke evtheos apesti O Angelos ap’ aftou.Ke O Petros genomenos en eafto ipe: “Nin ida alithos oti

exapestile Kyrios ton Angelon Aftou ke exileto me ek

hiros Irodou ke pasis ti prodokias tou laou ton Ioudeon!”

And he said to him: “Wrap your cloak around you andfollow me!”

And he went out and followed him.He did not know that what was done by the Angel was

real, but thought that he was seeing a Vision.When they had passed the first and the second guard, they

came to the iron gate leading into the city.It opened to them of its own accord.And they went out, and passed on through one street.And immediately the Angel left him.And Peter came to himself, and said: “Now I am sure that

the Lord has sent His Angel to rescue me from the hand

of Herod and from all that the Judeans were expecting!” T H E H O L Y G O S P E L A C C O R D I N G T O S T J O H N 1 5 1 7 – 1 6 : 2

Ipen O Kyrios tis eaftou Mathites:“Tafta entellome imin, ina Agapate allilous.“I O kosmos imas misi, ginoskete oti Eme proton imon

memisiken.“I ek tou kosmou ite, O kosmos an to idion efili; oti de ek

tou kosmou ouk este, all’ ego exelexamin imas ek toukosmou, dia touto misi imas O kosmos.

“Mnimonevete tou Logou ou Ego ipon imin: ‘...Ouk estidoulos mizon to Kyriou Aftou!’

“Eme edioxan, ke imas dioxousin; i ton Logon Mouetirisan, ke ton imeteron tirisousin.

“Alla tafta panta piisousin imin dia to Onoma Mou, otiouk idasi ton pempsanta e.

“I mi ilthon ke elalisa aftis, amartian ouk ihon.“Nin de profasin ouk ehousi peri tis amartias afton.“O Eme mison ke ton Patera Mou misi.“I ta Erga Mi epiisa en aftis a oudis allos pepiiken,

amartian ouk ihon.“Ne de ke eorakasi ke memisikasi ke eme ke ton Patera

Mou.“All’ ina plirothi O Logos O gegrammenos en to Nomo

afton: “... oti emisisan Me dorean.’“Otan de elthi O Paraklitos on Ego pempso imin para tou

Patros - to Pnevma tis Alithias O para tou PatrosEkporevete - ekinos Martyrisi peri Emou.

“Ke imis de Martyrite, oti ap’ arhis met’ emou este.

“Tafta lelalika imin ina mi skandalisthite.

“Aposinagogous piisousin imas – All’ erhete ora ina pasO apoktinas imas Doxi latrian Prosferin to Theo!”

Our Lord said to His Disciples:“This I Command you: Love one another!“If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it

hated you.“If you were of the world, the world would love its own;

but because you are not of this world, for I Chose youout of the world, therefore the world hates you.

“Remember the Word that I said to you: ‘A servant is notgreater than his Master!’

“If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you; if theykept My Word, they will keep yours also.

“But all this they will do to you for My Name sake,because they do not know Him Who sent Me.

“If I had not come and spoken to them, they would nothave sin.

“Now they have no excuse for their sin.“He who hates Me, hates My Father also.“If I had not done among them the Works that no one

else did, they would not have sin.“Now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father.“But it is to fulfil the Word that is written in their Law:

‘... for they hated Me without a cause.’“When the Counsellor comes, Whom I shall send to you

from the Father – even the Spirit of Truth, WhoProceeds from the Father – He will bear Witness toMe.

“And you also are Witnesses, because you have beenwith Me from the beginning.

“I have said all this to you to keep you from falling

away.“They will put you out of the Synagogues – indeed, theHour is coming when whoever kills you will think heis offering Service to God!”

S T G E O R G E T H E G R E A T H O L Y M A R T Y R , T R O P H Y B E A R E R & W O N D E R W O R K E R

St George was born to a Christian family during the late

3rd century. His father was from Cappadocia and

served as an Officer of the Roman Army.

His mother was from Lydda, Palestine, to which shereturned as a widow along with her young son after

the Martyrdom of St George's father. There she

provided him with a respectable education and

raised him in Christian Piety.

St George - soon after his coming of age - enlisted intothe Roman Army and proved to be a charismatic

Centurion who consequently rose quickly through the

Military Ranks. By his late twenties he had gained thetitles of ‘Tribunus’ (Tribune) and later ‘Comes.’ (Count).

By that time St George had been stationed in

Nicomedia as a member of the personal guardattached to the Roman Emperor Diocletion who

reigned between 284–305.

In 303, Emperor Diocletian issued a most terrible Edict

authorising the systematic persecution and execution

of millions of Christians throughout the Roman

Empire.

His co-ruler, Emperor Galerius, was supposedly

responsible for this decision and he continued the

persecution during his own reign between 305–311.

When St George was ordered to enforce the persecution,

he boldly and publically confessed his own Christian

Faith, criticised the Imperial Decree and refused to

obey such unjust, merciless and wholesale slaughter

of innocent, law-abiding citizens.

Of course this utterly enraged Emperor Diocletian who

immediately gave order for his arrest, torture and

execution as a traitor to the Roman Empire.

Having endured innumerable hideous forms of torture, St

George was finally Perfected by sword, being

decapitated on 23 April 303.

Having witnessed his Martyrdom, Empress Alexandra, apagan priest, Athanasios, and many others were

converted to our Christian Faith, which resulted in

their own unspeakable punishments and execution.

St George's body was carried reverently to Lydda for

burial, where he was honoured as a Holy Martyr and Wonderworker.

St George is often depicted with a dragon or some other

serpentine creature under his feet, which comes froman account of his Miraculous Deliverance and

conversion of an entire region to Christianity, many

years after his Holy Martyrdom. A ferocious beast had made its lair at the spring (or lake)

that provided the region with water. Consequently,

the citizens had to distract the creature from its lair in

order to collect water every day, so in order to do so,

a daily human sacrifice was made – the victim being

chosen by drawing lots. Eventually, the allotted

sacrifice was a much loved young woman for whom

many Prayers for Divine Assistance had been offered.

Before the fierce creature could attack her, St George

appeared on a white horse and, after loudly invoking

the Divine Assistance and Power of the Holy Spirit, he

speared the beast to death.

As a result, the extremely relieved and grateful citizens

renounced their ancestral paganism and accepted

Christ and the Holy Trinity as their Almighty God

Who makes even the impossible possible for us.


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All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and Forever, andunto the Ages of Ages. AmenRemembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady, Mary,Theotokos yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commit ourselvesand one another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

25 April 2015

St Mark of the 70 Holy Apostles of Christ , Evangelist & Founder of the Holy Orthodox Church in Africa

Also the Feast of St Sylvester, Abbot of Obnora Monastery – The

New Holy Martyrs of Alexandropoulos: St Emmanuel, St

Theodore, St Gregory, St Michael and another St Gregory







Soson imas, Iie Theou, O Anastas ek nekron, psallontas

Si, Allelouia!


Israel. Save us, O Son of God, Who arose from the

dead, who sing to Thee: Alleluia!P A S C H A L A P O L Y T I K I O N – T O N E ( 7 ) V A R Y S / G R A V E


O Theos, ke ton thiron keklismenon, tis Mathites epestis,i panton Anastasis. Pnevma evthes di’ afton egkenizonimin, kata to Mega Sou Eleos.


Tomb was secured with a seal, O Christ God, Andalthough the doors had been bolted, Thou went to ThyDisciples, O Resurrection of all. Through them ThouRenew a Right Spirit in us, according to Thy GreatMercy.

F E S T A L A P O L Y T I K I O N – S T M A R K – T O N E 4

T ou Petrou sinekdimos, ke kinonos Ieros, tou LogouDiakonos, ke ipofitis Sofos, edihthis Apostole. Othen totou Sotiros, Evangelion Thion, Marke diaharattis, osOuranios Mystis. Dio Evangelista Se, potho gereromen.

St Peter’s companion and Sacred Partner were Thou, andServant of Christ the Logos and His Herald Most Wise,O Holy Apostle, Mark. Thou , O Inspired Mystic of theHeavens, recorded for all of us our Saviour’s MostDivine Gospel. Therefore, O Evangelist, we lovingly

honour Thee.F E S T A L K O N T A K I O N – T O N E ( 8 ) P L A G A L 4

T i filopragmoni dexia, tin Zooparohon Sou Plevran, O

Thomas exirevnise Hriste O Theos. Sigkeklismenon garton thiron os isilthes, Sin tis lipis Apostolis evoa Si: Kyriosiparhis ke Theos mou!

With his scrutinizing hand, Thomas examined Thy Life

Bestowing Side, O Christ our God. When Thouentered while the doors were bolted, he cried out toThee with the rest of the Apostles: Thou art my Lordand my God!

F E S T A L P R O K E I M E N O N – P S A L M 1 8 / 1 9 – T O N E 4

I s pasan tin Gin exilthen O fthongos afton ke is ta perata tis

ikoumenis ta rimata afton’

I Ourani diigounte Doxan Theou, piisin de hiron Aftou

anangelli to steroma.

Their Proclamation went forth into all the Earth, and their

words to the ends of the world.

The Heavens declare the Glory of God; the Firmament

shows the Creation of His Hands.

T H E F I R S T U N I V E R S A L E P I S T L E O F S T P E T E R 5 : 6 - 1 4

A delphi: tapinothite ipo tin Kratean Hira tou Theou, inaimas ipsosi en kero.

P asan tin merimnan imon epirripsantes ep’ Afton, oti Aftomeli peri imon.

N ipsate – grigorisate!O Antidikos imon diavolos os leon orisomenos peripati ziton

tina katapii.O antistite sterei ti Pisti - idotes ta afta ton Pathimaton ti en

kosmo imon Adelhotiti epitelisthe.

O de Theos pasis Haritos, O Kalesas imas is tin EonionAftou Doxan en Hristo Iisou oligon Pathontas, AftosKatartisi imas, Stirixi, Sthenosi, Themelisosi.

A fto i Doxa ke to Kratos is tou eonas ton eonon.Amin.D ia Silouanou, imin tou Pistou Adelphou, os logizome, di

oligon egrapsa - parakalon ke epimartyron taftin ineAlithi Harin tou Theou - is in estikate!A spazete imas i en Vaviloni sineklekti; ke Markos O Iios

Mou.A spasasthe allilous en Filimati Agapis.I rini imin pasi tis en Hristo Iisou.Amin.

Brethren: humble yourselves therefore under the MightyHand of God, that in due time He may exalt you.

Cast all your anxieties on Him, for He cares for you.

Be sober – be Watchful! Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring

lion, seeking someone to devour.Resist him – first in your Faith, knowing that the same

experience of Suffering is required of yourBrotherhood throughout the world.

After you have Suffered a little while, God of all Grace,Who has Called you to His Eternal Glory in Christ willHimself Restore, Establish and Strengthen you.

To Him be the Dominion forever and ever.Amen.By Silvanos, a Faithful Brother as I regard him, I have

written briefly to you – exhorting and witnessing thatthis is the True Grace of God – stand fast in it!She who is at Babylon – who is likewise Chosen – sends

you Greetings; and so does my Son, Mark.Greet one another with the Kiss of Love.Peace to all of you who are in Christ.Amen


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T H E H O L Y G O S P E L A C C O R D I N G T O S T L U K E 1 0 : 1 6 - 2 1

Ipen O Kyrios tis eaftou Mathites: “O akouon imon emouakoui, ke O atheton imas eme atheti; O de emeatheton atheti ton Apostilanta Me.”

I pestrepan de i evdomikonta meta Hara legontes: “Kyrie,ke ta demonia ipotassete imin en to Onomati Sou!”

Ipen de aftis: “Etheoroun ton Satanan os astrapin ek touOuranou pesonta.

“Idou! Dedoka imin tin exousian tou patin epano ofeonke scorpion, ke epi pasan tin dinamin tou ehthrou -ke ouden imas ou mi adikisi.

“Plin en touto mi herete - oti ta pnevmata imin ipotassete

- herete de oti ta onomata imon egrafi en tisOuranis!”

E n afi ti Ora Igalliasato to Pnevmati O Iisous ke ipen:“Exomologoume Si, Pater, Kyrie tou Ouranou ke tisGis, oti apekripsas tafta apo Sofon ke Sinton, keapekalipsas Afta nipiis.

“Ne, O Patir, oti outos Evdokia Egeneto Emprosthen Sou.”

Our Lord said to His Disciples: “He who hears you, hearsMe, and he who rejects you, rejects Me, and he whorejects Me, rejects Him Who Sent Me.”

The Seventy returned with Joy, saying: “Lord, even thedemons are subject to us in Thy Name!”

He said to them: “I saw Satan fall like lightning fromHeaven.

“Behold! I have granted you Authority to tread uponserpents and scorpions, and over all the power of theenemy – and nothing shall hurt you.

“Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this – that the spirits are

subject to you – but rejoice that your names arewritten in Heaven!”

In that same Hour He Rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said:“I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth,that Thou hast hidden these Things from the Wiseand Understanding, and revealed Them to infants.

“Yeah, O Father, for such is Thy Gracious Will.”

S T M A R K T H E H O L Y A P O S T L E , E V A N G E L I S T & F O U N D E R O F O U R C H U R C H I N A F R I C A CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE HAS RISEN!Dear Brethren: The most terrible night in human history

began in silence. In a house cooled by a nearby garden,there slept a young man, whose slumber was suddeninterrupted by the clanging of metal, loud, agitatedvoices and coarse screams.

He leapt from his bed and, hastily wrapping a piece of linenaround his unclad body, he ran from the house,thinking that robbers had invaded the garden, but whathe witnessed turn out to be far worse than any robbery,for a vicious mob, bristling with weapons, surroundedour Divine Teacher Whose words the young man heard:“Have you come out, as though against a thief, withswords and staves to take Me? I was daily with you inthe Temple, teaching, and you did not take Me, yet theScriptures must be fulfilled .” (MARK 14: 48-49)

The jeering mob led our Lord away and the young man sawhow His Disciples ran away, and he wondered: “Howcan one leave our Teacher alone in such calamity?”

These thought stung his heart and he decided to follow thecrowd until one of the angry guards noticed him andtried to grab him, which frightened him and caused himto flee, leaving his linen covering in the guard’s

grasping hands and his naked body exposed, whichfurther added to his misery, shame and fear.This young man was John Mark, who would become an

essential part of our Christian History – especially onthe great Continent of Africa – as he, together with theother Holy Apostles of Christ spread His Holy Gospelthroughout the known world and throughout the ages.

St Mark came from a pious Christian family who embracedthe Divine Truth of our Lord Jesus Christ Who oftenwent to their home, especially to their lovely shadyGarden of Gethsemane, to pray in solitude.

Furthermore, his mother, Mary, offered her house to Christand His Apostles for their gatherings and meals, and soit was that in her Upper Room so many immenselysignificant Events occurred.

There our Lord Jesus instituted His Mystical Supper; there

He appeared on at least two occasions to reveal theReality and Truth of His Glorious Resurrection whichforeshadowed our own General Resurrection on theEighth Day – the beginning of Eternity and our FinalJudgement.

There, too, our Lord’s Faithful Disciples and Apostleswould gather for Prayers and Teachings, to hide fromthe Judeans who sought all those connected with ourLord, after His Crucifixion.

And there, on that wonderful Day of Pentecost, the HolySpirit descended on the 120 Faithful Disciples andApostles to bestow His Divine Gifts that enable us tofulfil all His Commandments and Teaching – to humblyand obediently fulfil God’s Divine Will, which is alwaysfor our own Spiritual Benefit and Eternal Life.

St Mark did not initially stand out from our Lord’s other

Disciples.His uncle, St Barnabas, who was also one of the Seventy

Apostles of Christ, was much better known, for he

had played a special role in the Life of the NewlyConverted Saul, who became St Paul, the great HolyApostle to the Gentiles.

Together St Barnabas and St Paul set off on theirMissionary Journeys, accompanied by the young StMark.

Having grown faint and exhausted along the mountaintrails of Pamphylia, St Mark became a burden to theGreat Work of the Enlightenment of Nations by theother two Holy Apostles, so before they set off on theirSecond Missionary Journey, St Paul refused to allow StMark to accompany them again.

That fragile, timid and weak young man who had flednaked and in abject terror from the arrestingCenturions in the Garden of Gethsemane, who had weptfrom his hunger and physical exhaustion along thesteep mountain paths and who was finally dismissed bySt Paul, would very soon become a changed person,whose symbol was the mighty lion, which is depictedholding the Holy Gospel, on the official emblem of thePatriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa – the firstBishop, Pope and Patriarch being St Mark the Apostle ofChrist, Inspired Holy Evangelist and Great Holy Martyr.

When St Mark had returned to Jerusalem, St Peter took himunder his guidance and teaching, which caused St Markto grow to his full Spiritual Potential, to such a degreethat when St Paul met him again, he marvelled at theextraordinary change he had undergone, and he thenconsidered St Mark as a worthy companion on hisMissionary Journeys

Thus St Mark accompanied the great Apostle St Paul andfully participated in all the Holy Labours of both ChiefApostles.

Long journeys were not longer exhausting nor terrifying forSt Mark and together with St Peter and St Paul, onvarious Missionary Journeys, he travelled to Seleucia,Cyprus, the Italian islands, Antioch, Ephesos and innerAfrica – to numerous countries and regions to preachthe Divine Truth of the Holy Gospel of Christ our

Saviour.St Mark lived a Life of zealous Asceticism, in Prayer and

Fasting, which cause the Therapeutae (a JudeanCommunity of the strictest piety) to convert toChristianity.

Inspired and Empowered by God the Holy Spirit, fulfillingthe Divine Will of God the Father and through theTeachings and Commandments of God the Son, St Markthoroughly Enlightened many thousands of souls whoturned from their pagan idolatrous ways to thewonderful Blessed Life in Christ.

The amazing spread of Christianity in Africa, finally causedthe Martyrdom of our First Holy Patriarch of Africa,

who had worthily earned His Glorious Crown of Victory.

EDITED & ADAPTED BY MP: “FROM L AMB TO LION” BY METROPOLITAN V LADIRM OF OMSK & T ARSK

(2012) HTTP:// WWW .PRAVMIR.COM /THE- APOSTLE- AND-EVANGELIST-MARK -FROM-LAMB-TO-LION /


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All Glory, Honour and Worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and Forever,and unto the Ages of Ages. AmenRemembering also our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed and Glorious Lady,Mary, Theotokos yet Ever Virgin, together with all the Saints. And let us commitourselves and one another and our whole Life to Christ our God. Amen.

26 April 2015

Tone 23 r d Sunday of Holy Pascha Sunday of the Holy Myrrhbearers,

St Joseph of Arimathea & St Nicodemos

Also the Feast of St Basil of Amasea – St Stephen, the

Enlightener of Perm – St Glaphyra the Virgin Martyr of Pontos

– St Ioannikios of Devich, Serbia – 6,000 Holy Martyrs of St David

Gareji Monastery, Georgia







Soson imas, Iie Theou, O Anastas ek nekron, psallontasSi, Allelouia!


Israel. Save us, O Son of God, Who arose from thedead, who sing to Thee: Alleluia!

R E S U R R E C T I O N A P O L Y T I K I O N – T O N E 2

O te katilthes pros ton Thanaton, i Zoi i Athanatos, tote

ton Adin enekrosas ti astrapi tis Theotitos. Ote de ketous tethneotas ek ton katahthonion anestisas, pasee Dinamis ton Epouranion ekravgazon. ZoodotaHriste, O Theos imon, Doxa Si!

When Thou condescended to Death, O Life Immortal,

Thou slayed Hades with the lightning flash of ThyDivinity. When also Thou raised up the dead fromthe subterranean abodes, all the Powers of Heavencried aloud: O Life-giver, Christ our God, Glory toThee!

A P O L Y T I K I O N O F S T J O S E P H O F A R I M A T H E A & T H E H O L Y M Y R R H - B E A R E R S

O evshimon Iosif, apo tou xilou kathelon, to ahranton

Sou Soma, sindoni kathara, ilisas ke aromasin, enmnimati keno, kidevsas apetheto; alla trimeros anestisKyrie, parehon to kosmo to Mega Eleos!

T es Myroforis Ginexi, para to Mnima epistas, O Angelos

evoa: To Myra tis thnitis iparhi armodia, Hristos dediafthoras edihthi allotrios; alla kravgasate: Anesti OKyrios, parehon to kosmo to Mega Eleos!

The noble Joseph taking down Thy spotless Body from

the Tree, wrapped it in a clean shroud with sweetspices and laid it for burial in a new tomb; but on thethird day Thou arose, O Lord, granting the world ThyGreat Mercy!

The Angel standing by the Tomb cried to the Myrrh-

bearing Women: Myrrh is fitting for the dead, butChrist has been shown to be a stranger to corruption.But cry aloud: The Lord has Risen, granting theworld His Great Mercy!

P A S C H A L K O N T A K I O N – U N T I L A S C E N S I O N D A Y

I ke en Tafo katilthes athanate, alla tou Adou kathiles tin

dinamin; ke Anestis os nikitis, Hriste O Theos, GinexiMiroforis fthengxamenos: Herete! Ke tis sis ApostolisIrinin doroumenos, O tis pesousi parehon Anastasin.

Although Thou descended in the grave, O Immortal

One, yet Thou destroyed the power of Hades; andThou arose as Victor, O Christ our God! To theMyrrh-bearing Women Thou said: Rejoice! And toThine Apostles Thou granted Thy Peace: the One

Who grants Resurrection to the fallen ones.R E S U R R E C T I O N G O S P E L 4 - L U K E 2 4 : 1 – 1 2

T H E M Y R R H B E A R E R S F I N D T H E T O M B E M P T Y

F E S T A L P R O K E I M E N O N – P S A L M 1 1 7 / 1 1 8 – T O N E 2

I shis mou ke imnisis mou O Kyrio ke egeneto mi is Sotirian.

P edevon epedefse me O Kyrio ke to Thanato ou parekoke

me.

The Lord is my Strength and my Song, and He became my

Salvation.

The Lord Chastened and corrected me, but He did not

give me up to Death.

T H E A C T S O F T H E A P O S T L E S A C C O R D I N G T O S T L U K E 6 : 1 – 7D E A C O N S A R E O R D A I N E D

En tes imeres ekines, plithinonton ton Mathiton egenetogeongismos ton Elliniston pros tou Evreous, otiparetheorounto en ti Diakonia ti kathimerini e hireafton.

Proskalesameni de i Dodeka to plithos ton Mathiton ipon:“Ouk areston estin imas katelipsantas ton Logon touTheou Diakonin trapezes.

“Episkepsasthe oun, Adelphi, andras ex imonmartyroumenous epta pliris Pnevmatos ke Sofias, ouskatastisomen epi tis hrias taftis.

“Imis de ti prosevhi ke ti Diakonia tou Logouproskarterisomen.”

In those days, when the number of Disciples wasmultiplying, there arose a complaint against theHebrews by the Hellenists because their widows wereneglected in the daily distribution.

The Twelve summoned the multitude of Disciples andsaid: “It is not desirable that we should leave the Wordof God and serve tables.

“Therefore, Brethren, seek out from among you seven menof good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and Wisdom,whom we may appoint over this business.

“ We will give ourselves continually to Prayer and theMinistry of the Word.”


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Ke iresen O Logos enopion pantos tou plithous.Ke exelexanto Stefanon, andra pliri Pisteos ke Pnevmatos

Agion, ke Philippon ke Prohoron ke Nikanora ke Timonake Parmenan ke Nikolaon prosiliton Antiohea, ousestisan enopion ton Apostolon, ke prosevxameniepethikan aftis tas hiras.

Ke O Logos tou theou iixanen, ke eplithineto O arithmos tonMathiton en Ierousalim sfodra, polis te ohlos ton Iereonipikouson ti Pisti.

And their words pleased the whole multitude.And they chose Stephen, a man full of Faith and the Holy

Spirit, and Philip Prochoros, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenasand Nicholas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set

before the Apostles; and when they had prayed theylaid hands on them.

And the Word of God spread, and the number of Disciplesmultiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many ofthe Priests were Obedient to the Faith.

“The Hebrews ” referred to the local Jewish Christians in

Jerusalem who spoke Aramaic, while “the Hellenists”

were Greek-speaking Jewish Christians from other

parts of the Hellenised world who had settled inJerusalem.

St John Chrysostom noted that this particular complaint

showed a lack of order among the quickly growing

multitude of Faithful Christians, even though theneglect of the Hellenistic widows and orphans was

certainly not malicious or intentional.

So it is evident that various problems that faced the early

Church arose not only from outsiders, but also due to

dissension or misunderstanding from within.

However, these various initial difficulties were quicklyresolved due to the mutual respect and Love of one

another within the Holy Church of Christ.

PROBLEMS HAVE ALWAYS ARISEN DUE TO THE “HUMAN FACTOR” –

WHEN OUR EGOS AND SELFISHNESS DOMINATE AND RULE OUR

EMOTIONS AND ACTIONS.

However, these MUST always be very quickly Repented,resolved and forgiven, so that we may CONTINUE TO

FOCUS ON OUR FAITHFUL AND TRUE WORSHIP OF A LMIGHTY

GOD, WHILE CONSTANTLY CORRECTING AND REPENTING OUR

OWN PERSONAL FLAWS, which is the entire Purpose of this

earthly life, before Eternity.The term “Disciples” generally refers to all Faithful

Believers and Followers of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus

Christ, and not only to His Twelve Apostles or those

who were close to Him and who accompanied Him

during His Public Ministry.

To be A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST means that we are reallytrying to LEARN ALL THE S ACRED TEACHINGS AND

COMMANDMENTS OF CHRIST OUR S AVIOUR SO THAT WE CAN

APPLY THEM TO OUR EVERY WORD, THOUGHT AND DEED: THIS IS

LIFE IN CHRIST, WHICH TAKES MUCH EFFORT AND A F AITHFUL WILLINGNESS TO OBEY GOD AT ALL TIMES.

While THE MINISTRIES OF THE W ORD AND OF SERVING widows

(and orphans) are important Sacred Tasks, they

CANNOT BE PERFORMED BY THE SAME PEOPLE AND STILL RECEIVE

PROPER ATTENTION.

Therefore, the Holy Church developed diversified

Ministries.In the Orthodox Church to this very day, our Bishops and

Presbyters (Priests) are Called to focus on “Prayer and

the Ministry of the Word ” of God, while the other

essential ministries of Christ’s Holy Church areaccomplished by Deacons and the laity (the people

or congregation) of each Parish.

DEACONS WHO ARE CALLED TO SERVE ARE REQUIRED TO BE NOT

ONLY SPIRITUAL, BUT ALSO “F ULL OF W ISDOM ,” WHICH IS

ESSENTIAL FOR MANAGING THEIR S ACRED T ASKS.

While “the multitude ” submitted the names of the first

Seven Deacons, THE HOLY A POSTLES OF CHRIST ORDAINED

THEM.

Thus the synergy between Laity and Clergy was

demonstrated in the selection of these Church

Servants and leaders.

Whether these first chosen Deacons held the LiturgicalOffice of Deacon, or whether their Diaconate was

more Service-oriented, THEY RECEIVED THEIR S ACRED

OFFICE BY MEANS OF HOLY ORDINATION BY THE DIVINELY

A UTHORISED A POSTLES OF CHRIST.

THE INCREASE IN NUMBERS OF F AITHFUL DISCIPLES OF CHRIST

ONLY OCCURS WHEN THREE GREAT PILLARS OF CHURCH LIFE

ARE FULLY IN PLACE:

W ORSHIP

E VANGELISM

CHARITY /LOVE

Furthermore, this wonderful Growth occurs WHEN EXTERNAL

AND INTERNAL STRUGGLES OR PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN

ADDRESSED, RESOLVED AND REPENTED.

THE FIRST PRESBYTERS (PRIESTS) WERE CHRISTIAN CONVERTS

WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN HEBREW PRIESTS but they hadnot necessarily been Ordained into the Priestly

Ministry within the Christian Church after their

Conversion to the New Covenant of God.

T H E H O L Y G O S P E L A C C O R D I N G T O S T M A R K 1 5 : 4 3 – 1 6 : 8T H E U N N A I L I N G & B U R I A L O F O U R C R U C I F I E D L O R D & S A V I O U R , J E S U S C H R I S T

T o kero ekino elthon Iosif O apo Arimatheas, efshimon

vouleftis, os ke aftos in prosdehomenos tin Vasilian touTheou, tolmisas isilthe pros Pilaton ke itisato to Somatou Iisou.

O de Pilatos ethavmasen i idi tehnike - ke,

proskalesamenos ton Kentiriona, epirotisen Afton i paleapethane.

K e gnous apo tou Kentirionos edorisato to Soma to Iosif.

K e agorasas sindona, ke kathelon Afton enilise ti sindoni,

ke katethiken Afton en Mnimio O in lelatomimenon ekpetras.

K e prosekilise lithon epi tin thiran tou Mnimiou.

I de ari i Magdalini ke Maria Iosi etheoroun pou tithete.

K e diagenomenou tou Savvatou, Maria i Magdalinin ke

Maria i tou Iakovou, ke Salomi, igorasan aromata, inaelthouse Alipsosin Afton.

K e lian proi tis mias Savvaton erhonte epi to Mnimion,

anatilantos tou iliou.

K e elegon pros eaftas: “Tis apokilisi imin ton lithon ek tis

thiras tou Mnimiou?”

At that time, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of

the Council, who was also himself looking for theKingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, andasked for the Body of Jesus.

Pilate wondered if He were already dead – and,

summoning the Centurion, he asked him whether Hewas already dead.

And when he learnt from the Centurion that He was dead,

he granted the Body to Joseph.And he bought a linen shroud, and taking Him down,

wrapped Him in the linen shroud, and laid Him in aTomb that had been hewn out of rock.

And he rolled a stone against the door of the Tomb.

Mary Magdalene and Mary, the Mother of Joses1 saw

where He was laid.

And when the Sabbath had past, Mary Magdalene and

Mary, the Mother of James, and Salome, bought spices,so that they might go to Anoint Him.

And very early on the first day of the week2 they went to

the Tomb when the sun had risen.

And they were saying one to another: “Who will roll away

the stone for us from the door of the Tomb?”

1 Joses was one of St Joseph the Betrothed’s sons from his late wife, Salome, sister of St Anna. In other words, this is an oblique reference to

our Lady Theotokos who always maintained a humble and low-key role in the background of Her Beloved Son and God’s Mission on Earth.

Joses was Her cousin and by Mosaic Law according to Her Betrothal also one of Her stepsons. Likewise “Mary, the mother of James.”

“Salome” was a sister of Joses, and thus a cousin and stepdaughter of our Lady Theotokos.2 The first day of the week is Sunday.


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K e anavlepsase theorousin oti apokekiliste O lithos - in gar

megas sfodra.

K e iselthouse is to Mnimion, idon neaniskon kathimenon en

tis dexiis - perivevlimenon stolin levkin.

K e exethamvithisan.

O de legi aftes: “Mi ekthamvisthe. Iious zitite ton

Nazarinon ton estavromenon. Igerthi, ouk estin ode. IdeO topos opou ethikan Afton.

“ A ll’ ipagete ipate tis Mathites Aftou ke to Petro oti proagi

imas is tin Galilean. Eki Afton opsesthe, kathos ipenimin.”

K e elthouse efigon apo tou Mnimiou - ihe de aftas tromos

ke ekstasis

K e oudeni ouden ipon - efovounto gar.

And looking up, they saw that the stone had rolled back –

for it was very large.

And entering the Tomb, they saw a young Man sitting on

the right side – dressed in a white robe.

And they were amazed.

He said to them: “Do not be amazed. You seek Jesus of

Nazareth Who was crucified. He has Risen – He is nothere. Behold the place where they laid Him.

“ B ut go – tell His Disciples, and Peter, that He is going

before you to Galilee. There you will see Him, as Hetold you.”

And they went out and fled from the Tomb, for trembling

and astonishment had come upon them.

And they said nothing to anyone - for they were afraid.

If His Faithful Apostles had buried Christ, doubters and

enemies of Divine Truth could claim that His Most

Precious Body had simply been hidden away by them

and that there was no Resurrection.

ST JOSEPH OF A RIMATHEA , BEING BOTH A COUNCIL MEMBER

(OF THE S ANHEDRIN) AND AN ACKNOWLEDGED “G OOD AND

J UST MAN ” TOGETHER WITH ST NICODEMOS – ALSO OF GOOD

REPUTATION AND SOCIAL STATUS - REFUTES ANY POSSIBILITY

THAT OUR LORD’S BODY WAS MERELY REMOVED AND HIDDEN BY

HIS F AITHFUL A POSTLES AND DISCIPLES.

As a wealthy and highly prominent, respected member ofHebrew society, St Joseph of Arimathea was able to

personally approach the Roman Governor, Pontius

Pilate, to request the Body of Christ, Whom Pontius

Pilate had already acknowledged as having been

unjustly tried, punished and condemned to death by

crucifixion.

The fact that Pontius Pilate “...marvelled that He was

already dead...” confirms the Divine Truth that CHRIST

P ANTOCRATOR CHOSE THE EXACT HOUR OF HIS DEATH, HAVING

S ACRIFICED HIMSELF FREELY AND WILLINGLY FOR THE SAKE OF

ALL HUMANITY.

Usually crucifixion victims suffered for a very long time,sometimes for days, before dying but when the

Sabbath Day was approaching, Hebrew criminals’

legs were shattered so that they quickly died from the

most painful green fracture injuries, YET AS PROPHESIED, NOT A BONE OF OUR LORD WAS BROKEN!

The Spiritual Significance of a New Tomb that “had

been hewn out of rock ” and “where no one had ever

lain before ” is that CHRIST SUFFERED A DEATH UNLIKE ANY

OTHER HUMAN BEING – DEATH WITHOUT SPRITUAL OR PHYSICAL

CORRUPTION – A DEATH LEADING TO ETERNAL V ICTORY OVER

THE TOMB ITSELF.

Furthermore, the description of the New Tomb according

to several sources, clearly shows that IT WAS A VERY

SPECIAL TOMB FIT FOR A MOST IMPORTANT PERSON – AND W HO

IS MORE IMPORTANT AND INFLUENTIAL THAN OUR LORD JESUS

CHRIST – OUR ONE AND ONLY ETERNAL HIGH PRIEST AND KING

– OUR ONLY ETERNAL GOD INCARNATE!

Another fact to be considered is that NOT ONLY WAS A

HUGE, HEAVY ROCK PLACED - WITH MUCH EFFORT - AT THE

ENTRANCE TO THE TOMB AND THEN SEALED, BUT TWO ROMAN

GUARDS STOOD WATCH AS WELL, because the devious

Hebrew leaders had alleged that Christ’s Body would

be removed by His Disciples so that they could then

proclaim His Resurrection from the dead as He had

truthfully and precisely foretold.

A FTER CHRIST HAD RESURRECTED, A POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE

announced the Glorious Event by BREAKING THE SEALS,

ROLLING AWAY THE ROCK blocking the entrance and

REVEALING TO ALL MANKIND THE EMPTY TOMB, containing

only the discarded Shroud (Soudarion) and carefully

folded Facecloth (Mandylion).

THE ROCK DID NOT ROLL AWAY SO THAT CHRIST COULD EXIT THE

TOMB BUT ONLY TO REVEAL TO MANKIND THAT HE HAD TRULY

RISEN!

The terrified guards – who also witnessed the EmptyTomb - ran away in fear of the punishment they

faced from the Roman authorities, but were later paid

by the Hebrew authorities to blatantly lie to everyone

that the Disciples had removed the Body of Christ after

knocking them unconscious!

Habitual liars, thieves and deceivers always accuse others of their own

sins – and they REJECT Divine Truth – the Absolute Truth –

because it is something that is totally alien to them.

CHRIST DIED JUST BEFORE THE S ABBATH SO THE USUAL BURIAL

CUSTOMS OF THE HEBREWS COULD NOT BE COMPLETED by His

Mother and Disciples, and they had to return on the

first day of the week – Sunday – to do so.

ST JOSEPH OF A RIMATHEA AND ST NIKODEMOS HAD UNNAILED OUR

LORD FROM HIS CROSS AND WRAPPED HIS NAKED BODY IN A

FOURTEEN FOOT LONG “ FINE LINEN ” CLOTH that became the

Burial Shroud, also gathering up any bloody soil thatsurrounded the Cross, to be buried with Him.

THEY HAD CARRIED HIM TO THE TOMB AND WRAPPED HIM WITH

OTHER LINEN STRIPS SOAKED WITH THE 100 POUNDS OF

BITTER ALOES THAT ST NIKODEMOS SUPPLIED.

THE M ANDYLION OR F ACE CLOTH WAS GENTLY AND RESPECTFULLY

PLACED OVER HIS F ACE AS SOON AS THEY TOOK HIM DOWN

FROM THE CROSS, WHICH REMAINED UNDER THE OUTER BURIAL

CLOTHS, which were soaked with bitter aloes and

dried as hard as concrete.

Therefore, when St Peter and St John saw the foldedMandylion, they were amazed – (and even more so

when they noticed the Image of Christ upon it – which

became known as the Holy Icon “Not-Made-By-Hands”

– the first Holy Icon of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was

copied many times by others over the years. mp)

St Joseph of Arimathea and St Nikodemos showed their absolute

faith, honour and worship of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour by

all their actions: going directly to Pontious Pilate for permission

to Unnail our Lord from the Cross, purchasing the best quality of

fine linen available in which to wrap His Precious Body, donating

a newly hewn Tomb carved from solid stone and in a beautiful

garden – again nothing but the best resting place for Christ our

Saviour – and their own personal attention to all the necessary

Burial Rites, including the supply of 100 pounds of Bitter Aloes!

St John the Divine Apostle, our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos and Her

close companion, St Mary Of Magdala watched and witnessed our

Lord’s Burial.

A CCORDING TO OLD COVENANT L AW , THE BODIES OF THE DECEASED

WERE NOT WASHED BUT A NOINTED WITH AROMATIC OILS – and

in the cases of violent death, all blood and body parts

were carefully gathered, wrapped and buried

together with the rest of the body.

Although the Apostles and Disciples had gone into hiding

for fear of the Roman and Hebrew authorities, the

eight devoted Holy Myrrh-bearing Women, led by our

Most Blessed Lady Theotokos bravely went to fulfil

their Sacred Duty out of their profound Love and

Respect for Christ our Lord and Saviour.

Our Lady Theotokos was the legal “Mother” of St Joseph the

Betrothed’s seven children - St James, St Joses, St Jude, St

Simon, St Salome (mother of St John and St James), St Ester and

another daughter, who were actually Her cousins and probably

much older than Her.

Since She preferred and insisted on remaining humbly in the

background of Her Beloved Son and Lord, the Apostles, Disciples

and Evangelists respectfully referred to Her in obscure ways such

as “...the Mother of Joses...” or “...the Mother of James andSalome,..” etc.

The Angel of God – possibly Archangel Gabriel who is the

Angelic Messenger and Bearer of Good Tidings from

God to us human beings – specifically mentioned St

Peter, which revealed our Lord’s special Care and

Love even for one of His Apostles who had denied Him

at a crucial time.


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According to St Theophylact the deeply repentant and

sorrowful St Peter would have said of himself: ‘I denied

the Lord, and therefore I am no longer His Apostle!’ Yet

the Angel’s words showed that our Lord God had

already forgiven St Peter and still Loved him as

before.

This is another Divine Teaching that clearly shows us that

WHENEVER AND WHATEVER WE TRULY REPENT WITH ALL SORROW

AND HUMILITY, WE ARE FORGIVEN BY GOD W HO LOVES US -

EVEN THE WORST OF SINNERS - FOR HE DOES NOT REQUIRE OR

DESIRE ANYONE TO SUFFER ETERNAL CONDEMNATION AND

PERPETUAL SPIRITUAL DEATH.

For this reason, WE MUST NEVER DARE TO JUDGE ONE ANOTHER AND NOT EVEN OURSELVES FOR GOD’S DIVINE LOVE AND GRACE

IS FAR BEYOND ANYTHING WE CAN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND OR

APPRECIATE.

Our Blessed Lady Theotokos and Mary Magdalene “...

said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid ...” does

not mean that they never told the others what they

had experienced so early on that first Resurrection

Day.

OUR L ADY THEOTOKOS “...KEPT MANY THINGS TO H ERSELF ...”

THROUGHOUT HER LIFE, ONLY SPEAKING OF THEM WHEN IT

BECAME NECESSARY TO DO SO and in order to confirm the

Absolute Truth of Christ’s Holy Gospel and His sinless

Life on earth as God Incarnate and Perfect Man – AND

THEN ONLY TO THOSE WHO WOULD FULLY APPRECIATE AND

UNDERSTAND THEM.

Only after our Risen Lord Jesus Christ had appeared to

the other Holy Apostles and faithful Disciples, did they

speak of their experiences of that very early Sunday

morning – Holy Pascha.

THE STATEMENT THAT “...THEY WERE AFRAID ...” MIGHT HAVE

REFERRED TO THE ENORMOUS SHOCK OF NOT ONLY WITNESSING

THE OPENED TOMB WITH THE ABANDONED BURIAL CLOTHS AND

THE PRESENCE OF THE A NGEL OF GOD, BUT ALSO A RELUCTANCE

TO TELL THE OTHERS WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE BELIEVED THEM

and – being men – the Apostles would have thought

the Myrrh-bearing Women were merely “hysterical ” or

“delusional ” due to their intense grief.

A S THE A DORING MOTHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, OURL ADY THEOTOKOS WOULD HAVE BEEN INDESCRIBABLY

TRAUMATISED BY HAVING WITNESSED CHRIST’S TERRIBLE

SUFFERING,

HOWEVER, SHE WAS ALSO DEEPLY F AITHFUL AND FILLED WITH

DIVINE GRACE THAT ENABLED HER - MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE -

TO APPRECIATE AND UNDERSTAND ALL THINGS PERTAINING TO

A LMIGHTY GOD AND HIS DIVINE W ILL FOR ALL HUMANITY.

IN HER PROFOUND W ISDOM AND LOVE FOR GOD AND HER FELLOW

MANKIND, SHE WOULD KEEP MANY THINGS – ESPECIALLY THE

DIVINELY MYSTERIOUS THINGS – TO HERSELF, knowing that

others would either not understand or would

misinterpret or blaspheme them.

T H I R D P A S C H A L S U N D A Y - T H E H O L Y M Y R R H B E A R E R S E L D E R S O F I A N B O A G H I U O F A N T I M M O NA S T ERY

Christ is Risen! Truly He has Risen!Dearly Beloved Brethren:As you know, the Third Paschal Sunday is “Sunday of the

Holy Myrrhbearers ,” or “Sunday of the Faithful Women,”i.e. the Faithful Keepers of Christian Families and Life inChrist.

All Faithful Christian Women should be joyful that youpartake of this special honour from our ResurrectedLord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

And through our Most Pure, All Holy and Ever Blessed Lady,Theotokos, and the other Holy Myrrh-bearing Women,you have one Sunday a year when you are especiallyhonoured.

May our Lord multiply in you the Divine Grace and Gifts ofthe Holy Spirit, and may the Divine Gift of ChristianLove abide truly in you, in order that you may becomethe Faithful and True maintainers of Christian Love andHarmony within your family.

For many families today are met with disaster... as some ofyou know far better than me!

So I shall not speak about it.And those of you Faithful Women who attend Church

regularly and constantly pray to our Lord - both here inthis Holy Temple and at home – if you pray attentivelywith Love (Agape), Humility and Perseverance, you willcertainly receive Divine Assistance from God and becomforted in all your troubles and concerns.

As we preach today on the Sunday of the HolyMyrrhbearing Women, let us not forget that all of you –

all Orthodox Christian Women and your daughters – areCalled to be the Holy Myrrhbearers of the OrthodoxChurch today and forever.

The young girls – our daughters – can bring as FragrantMyrrh to our Lord Jesus Christ their chaste life ofvirginity, their heartfelt Prayers and their humbleObedience and sincere respect - to God and theirparents, and their teachers, as well as to all those whoare older and wiser than them.

All college students and young women who regularly attendChurch and strive to Live in Christ, can also bring toChrist our Saviour as their fragrant Myrrh a zeal forGood Deeds, for Mercy and Charity towards all thosewho suffer or who are in need, as well as their humbleObedience to their Spiritual Fathers.

As their most precious Myrrh, Christian Mothers can offerour Lord and Master the healthy birth, nurturing andeducating their children in the Love and Holy Fear ofGod.

Furthermore, the elderly women of our Community whomost often attend Holy Services, bring to Christ as theirfragrant Myrrh, their tears and Prayers as they piously

maintain and preserve our Orthodox Faith – ourpriceless Spiritual Legacy, which we have received fromour Faithful Ancestors, and which we, in turn, mustpass to the next generation, in all its Perfection andGlorious Love.

Behold! All you Daughters of the Orthodox Church! Youare the Faithful offspring of the Holy Myrrhbearers!

When you hold in your heart the good Fragrance of Faith,Prayer and Christian Love, and when you hasten withdevotion to attend Holy Services, together with yourchildren, you are eagerly hurrying to attend to ourBeloved Lord Jesus Christ, just as the Holy Myrrbearersso eagerly went to the Holy Tomb of our Crucified andResurrected Saviour.

Those Holy Myrrhbearing Women were more courageousthan even the Holy Apostles who had all – except for St

John – abandoned Him in order to hide in fear.His Ever Blessed Mother and the other Holy Women never

left Him, but continued to follow Him and to watch, towait and to do whatever needed to be done.

And when they finally reached our Lord’s Empty Tomb,they were the first to hear that most wonderfulAnnouncement: “Christ is Risen! He is truly Risen!”

T H E I N S P I R E D , E T E R N A L W I S D O M O F O U R H O L Y C H U R C H F A T H E R S

E L D E R C L E O P A S ( O F R O M A N I A ) Our Holy Church Fathers say that Meekness stands

between anger and Love. And they add: “Let Gentleness not lead you to

cowardice, nor Love to carelessness .”So, we must use Gentleness wisely, as it stands

midway between anger and Love - not so Meekas to tolerate blasphemy against God and HisGospel in the name of “love”, but also not rudeand unforgiving, with rage or revenge againstour Brother [Neighbour].

The Fathers say Humility is Christ’s Garment for taking onhuman flesh for our Salvation.

Christ took on the fleshly Righteous-passions such as:hunger, thirst, pain, fatigue, etc, but concerningour sinful passions, He never took on any of them.

“Every day, every week, every month and everyyear of our life are Treasures that we lose withoutmuch reflection, but once we have lost them, it isimpossible to bring them back !” (Unknown author)

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2015 - April Sacred Lessons